Keith and the Kitten
Elaine Bickell Minky Stapleton
Keith and the Kitten
Vol.1 Keith vs Queenie
Elaine Bickell
Illustrator: Minky Stapleton
Scholastic (2025)
Picture book, paperback, 24 pages
ISBN 978 1 77543 930 1
‘A charming Chihuahua, whose name was Keith,
Had big bulgy eyes and sharp little teeth.’
Keith is a lucky dog. He is spoiled by his owner, given
fine foods and cute clothes. He is even allowed to sleep in her bed. Then comes
a shocking new arrival: a kitten!
‘It’s your new baby sister – come and meet Queenie.’
Keith thinks his comfortable lifestyle is threatened by
Queenie. The reader soon realises that, although tiny, Keith is also a bully. A
cunning bully. He damages furniture and blames Queenie.
Unfortunately for selfish Keith, his owner adores
Queenie:
‘Move over Keith, Queenie’s sharing our bed.’
Keith’s sneaky effort to destabilise the sleeping
arrangements backfires and he is exiled to his own uncomfy plastic basket.
Meanwhile Queenie is queening it in the owner’s bed. Keith has got what he
deserved.
Young readers will soon spot that Elaine Bickell has
created a crafty parable about the arrival of a new sibling.
She also tells a good story in rhyming couplets. The text
is easy to read and the verse scans well. Key words are printed in bold type
for emphasis.
Artist Minky Stapleton has created striking illustrations
of the two combatants. Keith may be small and cute but we can also see his
sharp little teeth. Queenie has huge eyes and a fluffy silhouette, but closer
examination shows a pair of vampire style fangs. Their desperate manoeuvres as
they fight their cat-and-dog battle battles are hilarious.
A second volume is promised.
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