Customer Reviews

Something in the Air

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Something in the Air is engagingly written. The story begins with an attention-getting sound that signals the end of the comfortable life Toots, Sadie, and Ben (two kittens and a playful puppy), and their loveable Mama Cat, have known. Could this also signal the end of their life together as a blended family? As it turns out, this is just the beginning of a series of adventures that lead them to discover what will be next. Their differences, instead of being a problem, help the family to be more than the sum of its individual members. The essence of family is satisfyingly reaffirmed.
The story is nicely illustrated by Sheila Kelly Welch. Observant children will find themselves wondering where a certain impudent little mouse is going to pop up next, each time they turn the page.
Highly recommended.

Something in the Air is picturebook about a blended animal family - Ben the dog, his kitten sisters Toots and Sadie, and the gentle Mama Cat. Together they look for just the right home and family to live with. In one tricky situation after another, they stick together, until at last they find a house tended by a kind old man with the most wonderful something in the air - the smell of beef bones! The gentle color illustrations add a kindly touch to this story with a subtle but important theme: the importance of standing by one's family, no matter how mismatched individual members may appear. Highly recommended.

This is a heartwarming story about Mama Cat, her two girl kittens, and Ben the dog, who joined the family when he was just a "wiggly squeak." When the grocery store where they live is sold, Mama Cat declares they must stay together and find a new place to live. The gentle, sketch-like illustrations add warmth and comfort to the text. Readers with a keen eye will notice another little creature who seems to want to be a part of the family, too!

Ben the puppy lives with Mama Cat and kittens Toots and Sadie in Mr. David's corner store. Raised by the felines since he was "a wiggly squeak," Ben is comfortable being a "cat" until the day Mr. David nails a "SOLD" sign to the store's front door. "It means we must find a new home," explains Mama Cat.
Never mind this "we" stuff, Ben decides; he can find his own home. After all, nobody needs more cats, but everybody likes a nice dog! Off he goes by himself--on a quest that ultimately shows him the true meaning of family.
An illustrated story rather than a picture book, this hardback is a comfortable size (6.75 x 8.25) for cozy reading. The text is accessible to fluent third- or fourth-grade readers; the narrative offers an enjoyable read-aloud for younger children.
Expressive watercolor illustrations on every page add depth and detail to Ben's adventures. Watch for a tiny, unnamed mouse participating in many of the pictures.
Our Child Press is a small publisher specializing in books about adoption, but Something in the Air has appeal for a broader audience. Gently reminiscent of the classic (1951) The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse by Miriam Norton, this is a comforting storybook to bring smiles to the faces of young children regardless of their own family background.