Katie the Catsitter

Katie the Catsitter by Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Stephanie Yue (Scholastic Australia) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781761720253

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Katie wants to go to summer camp with her bestie, Bethany, but her mum can’t afford it. So she decides to raise enough money for a week at the camp by doing odd jobs for the other people in her apartment complex. She’s not great at carrying heavy bags or remembering to water plants, but she’s a natural when it comes to looking after Ms Lang’s 217 cats. But where does Ms Lang go every night? And why are the cats doing very non-feline things, such as ordering pizza and using a 3D printer?

Ideal for eight- to twelve-year-olds who are hesitant to read full-text chapter books, Colleen AF Venable’s graphic novel is a captivating take on the superhero genre. While the superficial subject of animal protection is admirable, perhaps more important for kids on the threshold of becoming teenagers are the two underlying themes of believing in yourself and not judging a book by its cover.

Stephanie Yue’s colourful cartoons bring Colleen’s words to life, with action and emotion aplenty. While succinct speech bubbles help to move the story along, Stephanie’s judicious use of image-only panels – often in sequences of three or more – certainly draw young readers deeper into the narrative.

Animal lovers will adore the purr-fect blend of clever kitties and caped crusaders in Katie the Catsitter. Brimming with mystery and mayhem, the book is a middle-grade page-turner that is bound to be a howling success.