A little bit strange, but I can see kids enjoying it because of the strangeness. In format, it's somewhere between a picture book and a graphic novel; it would work well for kids transitioning into reading on their own.

Note: I received a digital review copy through NetGalley. ( )

Bruno is the story of a cat in a checkered cap whose personality includes flexibility no matter the unexpected change in the day. When it's raining outside, he sets up a picnic indoors. And the friends he makes along the way include a fish swimming in the air and a canary that can only speak gibberish. In each case, Bruno is more than willing to help out.

This book is a great starter book for those transitioning from picture books to chapter books. What do I mean? Illustrations cover page after page, with a few sentences to read. It isn't overwhelming to a young reader as a chapter book might be. For my daughter, she did well with reading the story, but quickly lost interest. I'm not entirely sure why. It might be perhaps because the character is simply going about day by day, but there isn't a huge story involved. It's really about following a cat that is so laid back he's able to handle any setbacks or changes along the way. It's actually a great attitude to have.

I would have given the book 5 stars, except that it didn't hold the attention of a 7-year-old. She typically reads Princess in Black, Geronimo Stilton, Owl Diaries, Pete the Cat, Splat the Cat, Dog Man, and The Land of Fake Believe (to give an idea of where her tastes lie). But despite her lack of interest, I thought it was a cute book with a positive theme and fun illustrations. ( )