Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hilarious fun when cranky Kitty goes to obedience school.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Kitty and Puppy won't stop hissing, barking, and fighting, so their fed-up owner packs them off to obedience school. They enter Diabla Von Gloom's School for Wayward Pets with a self-proclaimed mutant supervillain rabbit and an intimidating bulldog who hates cats. Their teacher turns out to be patient and kind, helping to bring out the best in each pet as they go through familiar school activities: circle time, arts and crafts, show and tell, and so on. Kitty doesn't seem to have learned much in her day at school, but Miss Dee knows better -- and gets Kitty purring.
Is It Any Good?
This is another winning entry in Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty series. Kitty certainly isn't a cuddly cat, but she shows here she really can be a good friend. BAD KITTY SCHOOL DAZE will have kids howling with laughter, even as they absorb solid lessons on how to behave and why. They'll see the importance of kindness and empathy, even when it comes in a prickly package.
The bonus material explaining why cats and dogs are so famously incompatible underscores the book's message on redemption and the importance of trying to understand and appreciate each other.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how appearances can be deceiving. The gloomy-looking school turns out to be fun, scary-looking Petunia is actually a softy, and seemingly simple-minded Puppy is gifted in art and music. Is Kitty really bad?
Why do you think the Bad Kitty series is so popular? What's fun about a character who gets in trouble?
Have you ever found someone who appeared to be mean or unpleasant but turned out to be really nice or funny?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Nick Bruel
- Genre : Humor
- Topics : Animals , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : January 8, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 10
- Number of pages : 160
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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