Maria Putri

I can clearly see that this book won't last long - the copy I borrowed from another library has clearly already seen much scratching - but while it lasts, it will be so fun!

On the first spread, readers meet "Scratchie, the cat." who likes to scratch things. She stretches out her black paws, white claws at the ready, her pink toes perfectly round, and invites the reader to have fun scratching things with her! First you scratch a fuzzy, felt doormat together, "Come on, human. Use your claws and try scratching it!" Then climb up a table, scratching wood (vinyl) in the process. Once on the table, you'll find an interesting plastic cup to scratch, a paper (cloth) towel, and a shiny pot. A "soft and squishy" (vinyl) sponge is next, and then, of course, there are cardboard boxes!

The next spread shows Scratchie's owner at the corner, long black hair and a white hand visible, with Scratchie looking (mildly) guilty, trying out her claws on a shirt in the midst of the wreckage in the kitchen. Scratchie stretches, unconcerned, and invites readers to give her a scratch on her fur while she curls up to dream of what she'll scratch tomorrow!

This probably wouldn't work with a large group, but one-on-one it's a funny book that kids, even those without cats, will giggle through. Wide-eyed black Scratchie is an adorable cat, innocently wreaking havoc in the kitchen as she explores and finds things to test her claws on.

Verdict: Be prepared to replace frequently (and maybe shelve near a copy of instructions on how to clip your toddler's nails, just in case).

ISBN: 9781534437654; Published May 2019 by Little Simon; Borrowed from another library in my consortium… (plus d'informations)

Scratch, feel and glide are called for in this book which allows young readers to feel and discover surfaces right along with a cute cat, Scratchie.

Scratchie introduces itself to the reader, human, before going on an exploration of all the things that it tries to scratch. The surfaces vary and are introduced in a way that readers can test them right along with Scratchie. The ending is sweet and leaves happy thoughts.

I've always been a fan of books which allow kids to do more, especially for the intended age group of 3 to 5. It draws kids in to experience reading on a whole new level while allowing them to explore. Scratchie is the perfect character for this adventure. The cat is cute, sweet and carries just a smidgen of attitude, giving off a nice, feline atmosphere.

The illustrations are simple and bring across just the right amount at the right time. Scratchie comes across sympathetic and will have young readers wishing the cat could jump off the page and join them. That said, the 'feel' objects were a bit of a disappointment. While a couple were spot on, others didn't feel anything like their real counterparts. Even little ones will notice.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this one, as did my kids, and hope Scratchie goes on more adventures, we also hope a pay a little more attention will be paid to the examples in the future.

I received a complimentary copy and found it super-sweet. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts.… (plus d'informations)