Sunny and Oswaldo

When Dad brings home a scruffy gray stray whom he names Oswaldo, the feline spurns child Sunny. Sunny's not fond of cats, but it still hurts when Oswaldo eschews Sunny's best attempts at camaraderie, and will only cuddle and purr with Dad, who clearly "loved that cat more than anything"--Dad even takes Oswaldo's side when the cat becomes frightened and scratches Sunny. When Oswaldo goes missing, Mom nudges Sunny to join Dad's frantic search ("They need each other," she says) and something clicks with the girl when her father explains that while Oswaldo may never get over the trauma of abandonment, "that doesn't mean he's not a good cat. That doesn't mean we shouldn't love him." In an authorial picture book debut, Melleby (The Science of Being Angry) and Bulgarian illustrator Colombo create a story about animal-human attachment, found family, and much more: with economic text and scribbly cartooning, they also offer an astute look at that moment when a child realizes there is more in a parent's heart than initially imagined. All human characters read as white. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright Agency. (Feb.)

Pets can be…complicated. When Sunny's father adopts a scruffy gray cat he names Oswaldo, Sunny is less than thrilled. Sunny, who has light, freckled skin and straight reddish-brown hair, doesn't like the cat's name, his grooming habits, or the way he hisses at her. But Sunny's father loves Oswaldo, so Sunny tolerates him--even when it seems like Oswaldo gets special privileges that Sunny doesn't. Oswaldo often disappears all day, returning before bedtime--until one day he doesn't. Sunny is initially happy, but her father explains that Oswaldo's life pre-adoption was tough and they need to be a little patient with him. "That doesn't mean he's not a good cat. That doesn't mean we shouldn't love him." Thankfully Oswaldo eventually reappears, and both he and Sunny become a little more tolerant of each other. This well-paced story tells a realistic story of an adopted pet with grace and light humor. Families with strong-willed pets will love meeting Oswaldo, and those considering adopting a new furry friend from a shelter will find this an excellent way to remind younger family members that some animals, especially those who have endured difficult pasts, may be slow to warm up. The artwork has an exaggerated, cartoonish quality, though it also turns poignant; the final illustration of Sunny and Oswaldo hugging makes clear that even the most stubborn of us--human and pet--can change our opinions when we consider others. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Purrfectly charming! (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.