Bad Kitty: Puppy's Big Day
By Darienne Stewart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Puppy stars in funny, sweet book about animal welfare.

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What's the Story?
Kitty is in a bad mood -- a very bad mood. She causes such a ruckus that Uncle Murray abruptly takes Puppy out of the house until Kitty can calm down. Unprepared to be out with a dog, he gets off to a rough start: An officer scolds him for walking Puppy without a leash, failing to clean up after him, taking him into the wrong area of the park, and not having a license. Uncle Murray fixes everything, but an encounter with another dog leads to mayhem: Uncle Murray hides in a tree and the dogs break loose. They wind up in a shelter with other lost and abandoned dogs. All hope seems lost -- until Uncle Murray arrives to help out these dogs in need.
Is It Any Good?
PUPPY'S BIG DAY -- as with the other Bad Kitty chapter books -- serves up smart information with a mix of mayhem and giggles. This time the cantankerous Kitty stays home, and Puppy takes center stage with Uncle Murray, whose sloppy, careless appearance belies a sensitive, generous soul. Nick Bruel, who has such fun with drawing Kitty, has his fun here with Petunia, a meaty-faced bulldog with romantic dreams and bows on her ears.
Kitty drops in to share "horrible but true facts about dogs" in two-page, text-heavy informational spreads that explain some fascinating (if a little gross) science without being dull.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to be a responsible pet owner. If you have a pet, discuss ways you're taking good care of your pet and ways you could do better.
What do you think about a book that mixes a funny story with fun facts? What did you learn about dogs that you didn't know before?
Consider visiting a local shelter, volunteering there, or donating items for animals being cared for there.
Book Details
- Author: Nick Bruel
- Genre: Animals
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: January 6, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 10
- Number of pages: 160
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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