Sheila McGraw, author of Papier Maché for Kids and illustrator of the best-selling Love You Forever, makes full use of her established artistic talents in her new foray into writing fiction. This vibrantly illustrated picture book features Karen, a girl who has lost her cat, Mister Whiskers.

Karen takes the initiative by making lost cat posters and putting them up in her neighbourhood before her parents are even out of bed. The doorbell rings again and again; each time more cats pour into her house until there are pussycats everywhere. The sound effects of the doorbell ding-donging, the cats meowing and purring, and the door opening and closing are really fun to read aloud.

A cat-naming interlude creates an interesting break in the standard picture-book format. This section showcases 37 different cat personalities, no two of them alike in their positions or their colouring. With so many descriptive names, like Frizbee, Ruggles, and Clawdia, it is surprising that Karen’s cat has such a mainstream moniker.

The rich illustrations span sweeping residential street vistas and cuddly kittycats that look very soft and furry. Many playful turns of phrase, like a “blanket of purring furriness,” and “quilt-of-cats” add to the aural appeal of the story. In one case, however, alliteration is pushed over the top with the awkward phrase “posted the posters on posts.”

On Sunday, Karen finds lost cat signs for all the weekend guests and her mother helps her return the cats. Then, just as she remembers Mister Whiskers again, he appears at her door with purr-fect timing!