Itty Bitty Kitty #1

Maddy Mara is the pseudonym for publishing powerhouses Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger, who have between them worked across industry roles from illustration to acquisitions. Having previously collaborated on picture books and graphic novels, Itty Bitty Kitty is their first for junior readers. This collection of three charming chapter books introduces Itty Bitty Kitty as she meets her adoptive family and starts the process of taming them to her satisfaction. Each tale opens with a Sally Rippin-esque refrain: ‘This story starts with …’ and introduces children to common cat behaviours and communication techniques. Reminiscent of Ailsa Wild’s ‘Naughtiest Pixie’ series, the formatting is perfectly designed for the age group with lots of repetition, short, simple sentences and variation in font style and size for emphasis. Every page features Noemie Gionet Landry’s black and white illustrations, depicting our extremely cute protagonist as curious and confident in equal measure as she explores her new home. Repeated motifs of making friends, understanding emotions and confronting fear gently emerge from the stories and will delight those at the beginning of their reading journey and parents alike. Annie Waters sells books, writes about books and podcasts about books.

Maddy Mara is the pen name of Australian creatives Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger. Together they have created many bestselling series including Dragon Girls, which has sold millions of copies around the world, Jet Set Pets, Forever Fairies, Dragon Games … and our beloved Itty Bitty Kitty! Maddy Mara also writes picture books such as Brave in Every Which Way, The Greatest Mistakes that Went Right, and The Wonders of Never Giving Up. The authors live and work on the lands of the Wurundjeri people in Melbourne, Australia.

Noemie grew up in a small coastal town of New-Brunswick, Canada, surrounded by the ocean. Growing up, she told everyone she wanted to become either a doctor, or a children’s book illustrator. Midway through med school, she decided she would do both. She now shares her time between the hospital (where she works as a rheumatologist) and her home studio, where she sketches, draws and paints surrounded by her wife, son, two tiny Chihuahuas and two cats. She works both digitally and traditionally, creating engaging illustrations, usually with a funny twist!

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