Ava and Itty Bitty Kitty are off to visit the firehouse! Ava's giant cat is usually less than purr-fectly behaved, and this trip is no exception! Will Itty Bitty's nose for trouble make them new friends—or make their visit to the firehouse a disaster?
I Can Read Books are designed to encourage a love of reading. Itty Bitty Kitty: Firehouse Fun is a My First I Can Read book, and with basic language, word repetition, and great illustrations, it's perfect for shared reading with a child.
February 1, 2015
Itty Bitty is one large kitty.When Ava asks her parents for a cat, "Dad look[s] doubtful. 'Cats shed.' Mom [shakes] her head. 'Cats must be regularly fed.' " They tell Ava they'll revisit the subject when she's older. While she's moping on a park bench, Ava hears an itty-bitty "Mew." She takes the adorable purple kitten she finds and names him Itty Bitty, since he's so tiny. Ava thinks her parents are still in a "No" mindset, so she keeps Itty Bitty a secret...but he doesn't stay small for long. After a couple weeks, he's huge. Her parents' inevitable discovery of the cat leads them to tell Ava that Itty Bitty must go. But when Ava's perfect puss keeps her infant brother from falling down the stairs, her parents change their tune. Holub's run-of-the-mill kid-wants-a-pet tale is enlivened somewhat by the end and internal rhymes in the text. However, it's Burks' bright, digital cartoon illustrations in all their big-eyed, Chuck Jones-esque glory that recommend this ponderous pussycat parable. Even the most avid cat lovers may feel like giving this a miss. (Picture book. 2-5)
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October 1, 2016
PreS-Gr 2-Ava and ginormous Itty Bitty Kitty are off to visit the firehouse. Itty Bitty is a feline on the Clifford scale and is less than purr-fectly behaved. His nose for trouble leads them on a hilarious adventure where they make new friends and learn how to stay safe if there is a real fire. Colorful digital illustrations add to the excitement. This installment uses basic language, word repetition, and humorous story lines. It's perfect for sharing with a child and designed to encourage a love of reading. VERDICT Children who are developing their reading skills will enjoy following along with Ava and Itty Bitty's escapades.-Paula Huddy, The Blake School-Highcroft Campus, Wayzata, MN
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2015
Ava finds an "itty bitty" kitten left in a box, takes him home, and hides him (her parents have a no-pet policy). Itty Bitty grows to an alarming size and is soon discovered, but when he saves Ava's infant sibling from falling down stairs, her parents are swayed. Cartoony illustrations and lots of internal rhyme ("furry purry, snuggly huggly") keep the tone playful.
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)