Kitten Construction Company: Meet the House Kittens

June 1, 2018

Gr 1-3-Don't be fooled by the smiling kittens in construction hats adorning the cover-this lighthearted graphic novel doles out an important message about the dangers of judging by appearances. Marmalade the cat has a degree in architecture and a well-thought-out design for the mayor's mansion. But the city planner won't hire her-after all, such a coveted job can't go to "a cute little kitten." Joined by two other felines, Sampson, an aspiring engineer, and Bubbles, who longs to be a plumber, Marmalade starts her own construction crew, and the foreman in charge of the mayor's mansion agrees to let them work on the project. The cats point out that the architectural plans are dangerously flawed, but they're merely greeted with a chorus of "So adorable!" So Marmalade and her pals decide to build their own mansion and prove their mettle. Green's artwork is attractive, though a little static. Cleanly illustrated panels are loaded with humor that, though a little sophisticated in places, is still satisfying-few readers, young or old, will be able to keep a straight face upon meeting Professor von Wigglebottom. And while Green is never preachy, the warning against making snap assumptions comes through loud and clear. VERDICT A delightful addition to graphic novel shelves.-Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2018
Too adorable to be taken seriously, a team of talented kittens struggles to prove itself.Kitten Marmalade is a trained architect, and she has perfect plans for the human mayor's new mansion, but the city planner can't see past the orange feline's cuteness. She tries to drown her sorrows in a bowl of milk at the local diner, but the human server and customers fawn over her. She does meet Sampson, the kitty dishwasher, who's a trained electrical engineer: "No one takes me seriously, either," he says. The two decide to form an all-kitten construction firm and join forces with fluffy white cat Bubbles, who wants to be a plumber. Humans still think they are just endearing internet video fodder, so the trio, together with Siamese carpenter Professor von Wigglebottom and a pack of strays, take over an abandoned construction site to build Marmalade's plans. The humans working with the city planner make a mess of their building; good thing Marmalade and her crew are there to save the day! Green's graphic novel is...adorable. Big colorful panels, some filling the page, tell Marmalade's tale as she proves she is more than just a pretty kitty. Plenty of cat humor in dialogue and illustrations will keep young readers giggling, and many will identify with Marmalade's plight. Humans depicted are diverse.A winner of a tale, well-constructed and, dare we say, cute. (Graphic fantasy. 6-11)

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January 1, 2019
Color by Cat Caro. When Marmalade, an ambitious kitten architect, is rejected from designing the new mayor's manor because she's "too adorable," she and other fed-up, capable kitties form their own feline-run construction company in order to be taken seriously in a human-run world. Green's latest graphic novel for young readers contains simple, full-color panels; is tightly plotted; and offers an essential message, especially for little girls.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)