Mr. Pusskins, A Love Story

Mr. Pusskins, A Love Story
Written and illustrated by Sam Lloyd
Atheneum
ISBN 1416925171

Emily adores her cranky cat, Mr. Pusskins. She combs him, plays mouse games with him, and tells him what a handsome boy he is. None of that matters to Mr. Pusskins, who is bored with all her "blah blah blah." He decides to leave one night in search of adventure and naughty fun with the Pesky Cat Gang. After a while, though, he starts to miss Emily and her kind ways. His naughty fun isn't quite as much fun as it used to be. He wants his Emily back!

Lloyd's loose, expressive brushwork and bright palette make for exciting spreads, and her comical style captures Mr. Pusskins in all his scowling glory. This funny tale of unconditional love will be a welcome change from the more typical "I Love You" Valentine's Day books on the shelves now.

Attack of the Return of the Sequels

We've all experienced it. The satisfying yearning a great movie leaves in its wake. We want more and can't wait to get it. And yet, wait we must. We wait and we wait and we wait. And then the glorious day arrives and we head out to the Cineplex with great trepidation and about a hundred dollars for Goobers, Dots, Mikes and Ikes and Whoppers. Hey! A Chick gets hungry watching movies!

And when all is right in the universe and the stars are aligned, the sequel brings us great joy and new and wonderful friends like this:

And we love it and celebrate by diving beak-first into our extra large buttered popcorn and gulping down a king kong-sized lemondade and squirming in our seats for the next hour because the sequel is too delicious to miss even a minute.

Of course, sometimes, we make friends like this instead:

Then, we are a little sad and bury ourselves in our extra large and very heavily buttered popcorn and king kong-sized lemonade and squirm in our seats because we know that if we leave the theater for even a minute, we might not come back.

Alas, movie sequels are tricky things. Sometimes they make our fluffy yellow hearts sing. And sometimes, they don't. Same goes for book sequels. And here are a few of our recent favorites. Read them, you must!

Not a Stick
by Antoinette Portis
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061123252

Sequel to Not a Box

Just as delightful as the first one. A great way to jumpstart young imaginations!

Millie in the Snow

by Alexander Steffensmeier
Walker & Company
ISBN: 9780802798008

Sequel to Millie Waits for the Mail

Millie and her farm friends are back for a holiday romp with a deliciously fun ending!

Mr. Gum and the Gingerbread Billionaire

by Andy Stanton
HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780061152450

Sequel to You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum!

Another fun chapter book for readers who like their humor on the wacky side!

Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love Story

written and illustrated by Sam Lloyd
Atheneum
ISBN: 1416957966

Sequel to Mr. Pusskins

Poor Mr. Pusskins. His life with Emily used to be so perfect. But then she invited a kitten into their cozy home, and that kitten was trouble. Mr. Pusskins fans will not be disappointed--he is as grouchy and lovable as ever!

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Writing thank-you Notes

by Peggy Gifford

Schwartz & Wade Books

ISBN: 9780375842702

Sequel to Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

Moxy, our favorite girl with moxy, is back and once more, her procrastination lands her in trouble. This sequel brings back one of our favorite spunky characters from last year and adds a surprise emotional punch to boot.

So what are your favorite sequels? Any Yodas or Jar-Jars you've read lately? Do tell!