Hello, friends! Our book today is Kit & Kaboodle by Rosemary Wells, a tale of two very good kittens and their mischievous friend.

Readers are introduced to Kit and Kaboodle, two young kittens who are always on their very best behavior, and their tiny mouse companion Spinka, who is always quite naughty. Over the course of three stories, Kit and Kaboodle go about their days, doing things like washing their favorite socks, watching their dad play baseball, and taking their nighttime bath, only to have Spinka puckishly sow her mischief. Each time, Kit and Kaboodle are suspected by their parents, to which they protest their innocence. Then their day continues and Spinka enjoys having gotten away with her tricks.

Uh… hmm. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan. The stories were meandering, often without a compelling plot and always without a satisfying resolution. I’m not sure If Spinka was supposed to be a imaginary or supernatural or just a mouse, but I didn’t love that her pranks – which were often destructive and/or ill-intentioned – went completely unpunished, and she ended up perfectly satisfied that she had stolen belongings or destroyed property. That’s a super-weird message for a book. The antique-style illustrations that are Wells’ signature were fine, but nothing particularly innovative or even aesthetically pleasing. The length was okay, but JJ honestly seemed a little bored – though she did enjoy attempting the word “Kaboodle” for herself. But between the lackluster stories, the antiqued-looking art, and the unsatisfying endings, this one just didn’t do it for us.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)