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Bruel, Nick
17 Reviews
(2)
K-3
Kitty wants to give her wish-list letter directly to "Santa" at a store. On the way, she encounters so many Santa-costumed charity workers (plus one dog and...an octopus?) that she becomes frazzled. Kitty's "bad" behavior, communicated as always entirely in the bright cartoon illustrations, is relatable as well as funny. The narrator's droll tone and the smart pacing of page-turns and occasional panels heighten the humor.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2019
(3)
1-3
The Society of Cat Aptitude has revoked troublemaking Kitty's cat license, and she must take a test to get it back. After hours of preparation, she's ready...but the proctor is a chicken who's part of a plot to control the world. With its skewering of standardized testing, the absurdist (and occasionally informational, with facts interspersed) graphic narrative is one of the long-running series' stronger episodes.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(4)
1-3
The cantankerous cat returns, here requiring a visit to the vet. Under sedation, Bad Kitty has visions in which she learns that she won't be granted entrance to the afterlife's Pussycat Paradise unless she mends her mean ways with Puppy. The pedestrian story is redeemed by the silly black-and-white cartoons and interspersed "Uncle Murray's Fun Facts," covering veterinary science and pet care.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(4)
1-3
Uncle Murray takes Puppy on a walk and loses him after an encounter with an amorous bulldog. Murray eventually rescues Puppy, as well as a trio of dogs that wins his heart. Bad Kitty occasionally interjects with facts about dog behavior and pet care. Black-and-white cartoons maintain the humor of the somewhat drawn-out narrative. Information about breeds and pet adoption is appended.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(2)
K-3
Accessible language and chuckle-worthy situations provide one imaginative little girl's idiosyncratic take on the seasons (e.g., in summer, the girl melts into a puddle; fall finds her chatting with a tree about the book she's reading). Each season has a distinct layout: stacked horizontal panels for winter, vertical panels for spring, rectangular panels for summer, and full-page art for fall.
Reviewer: Robin L. Smith
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2015
(3)
K-3
Using his popular character, Bad Kitty, Bruel teaches readers how to construct a story. Breaking down the writing process into digestible chapters, Bruel provides a solid introduction to story elements and plot development. "Fun Facts" spreads explore more advanced topics. A brief overview of plagiarism rounds out this accessible how-to book; a glossary of literary terms is appended.
Reviewer: Lana Barnes
(4)
1-3
In this latest mildly amusing Bad Kitty adventure, Kitty and Puppy reluctantly attend obedience school. Through typical classroom activities, the hilariously naughty classmates work out their issues and Kitty struggles to change. The spunky animal characters breathe all of the life into this otherwise ordinary story, and the black-and-white cartoons develop and maintain the humor.
Reviewer: Lana Barnes
(4)
1-3
Kitty decides to run for president of the Neighborhood Cat Club and in the process learns how the American electoral process works. Kitty's usual insincerity and sarcasm are present along with Bruel's chunky cartoon illustrations in this dryly amusing if didactic story.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(4)
1-3
Having survived previous indignities, Bad Kitty is in for the strangest event of all: the arrival of a new baby in the house. Kitty and friends suspiciously suss out the intruder until Kitty learns that, like her, Baby was adopted. Cartoon humor adds verve to the somewhat drawn-out narrative.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(2)
K-3
In this "Night Before Christmas" parody, Bad Kitty ruins an entire alphabet's worth of Christmas presents then runs away from home. A kindly old lady takes Kitty in and shares her holiday spirit. Once reunited with her family, Kitty returns the favor in a satisfying conclusion. Bruel slyly adapts the familiar poetic structure; Kitty's over-the-top expressions make her bad behavior even funnier.
Reviewer: Katie Bircher
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2011
(4)
1-3
Bad Kitty is left in Uncle Murray's care while her owners are away for a week. Her stress combined with Murray's lack of understanding about cats leaves both sides anxious for the ordeal to end. The laughs are a bit more forced in this entry than in previous tales, but the copious black-and-white illustrations, along with Bad Kitty's misperceptions, are still entertaining.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(3)
1-3
It's Bad Kitty's birthday. All her friends come bearing gifts (though not the World's Greatest Cat-Scratcher she'd been hoping for). As the party progresses, the gifts disappear. It's a mystery until Puppy unveils his present: a cat-scratcher cobbled together from the other gifts. Spirited black-and-white illustrations display the hijinks. Brief descriptions of breeds of cats included in the story are appended.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(3)
1-3
After being chased through the garbage, it's time for Bad Kitty to get a bath. Short humorous chapters explain how cats normally bathe, why it's wrong for humans to bathe the same way, and the proper method for washing a cat. Sprinkled with facts--and plenty of funny warnings--the story also makes a good primer for young cat owners. Glos.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(3)
K-3
A bird ready to try her wings can't decide between her comfortable cage or freedom. Children will enjoy the repetitive rhythmic pattern, the concluding invitation ("I wonder what YOU would do?"), and the sophisticated art, in which the cage's gilded bars shine against dappled lavender while the world outside features geometrically arrayed houses in shades of gray and trees of brilliant green.
Reviewer: Joanna Rudge Long
(4)
K-3
When Kitty (Bad Kitty) isn't in the mood to play, Puppy turns to his toys, from "1 Airplane" to "26 Zoo Animals." Then Puppy takes a nap and dreams of playing games with Kitty, from "Apple Bobbing in Antarctica" to running "Zig-Zags" in Zimbabwe. The format, which worked in the first book, is forced here. Bruel illustrates Puppy's adventures with humorous energy.
Reviewer: Kitty Flynn
(3)
K-3
As information about Melvin Bubble is gathered from a variety of sources--his mother, his teddy bear, a scaredy-cat zebra--a composite Melvin emerges from the perspectives, before the six-and-a-half-year-old subject weighs in on himself. The book's design includes silly, quirky details, such as a variety of fonts and visual perspectives, making for a lively exploration of identity.
Reviewer: David Elzey
(2)
PS
Despite an encouraging audience, a baby kangaroo has trouble learning to jump. It turns out the joey is unable to mimic her mama because of what's in her pocket: "I have 1 sock, a candybar, 2 jacks, a toy dinosaur..." and so on. Illustrated with sunny watercolor and ink cartoons, the book ends with an exuberant pop-up spread designed to have preschoolers springing from their seats.
Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
January, 2005
17 reviews
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