The very fluffy kitty, Papillon by A. N. Kang

I had completely missed this book until I got to ALA and they were handing out magnets (which one of our circulation clerk's children are enjoying at this very moment). So, marketing works!

"Papillon is a big kitty. He is not fat. Just very fluffy." Thus begins the story of Papillon, a cat so fluffy he floats. Despite his owner's best intentions, dressing him in different costumes to keep him weighted down, Papillon is determined to float free. But when he sees a potential new friend, a little red bird, and goes outside to greet her... he floats away!

Fortunately, there is a happy ending with a compromise between Papillon and his owner Miss Tilly and Papillon's new friend.

The story is sweet and simple, gently quirky but with an adorable sweetness that listeners will sink into. For me, what really charmed me were the illustrations. Papillon is delightfully rounded and fluffy, with eyes that are often closed in sleep but occasionally pop open into sleepy dots. Readers can follow his friend, the little red bird, throughout the book from beginning to end and across the sometimes scary forest (in one scene the darkened forest shows an owl clutching a mouse and a snake eyeing some fledglings.

Verdict: Even if you didn't get any paper doll magnets (and I am totally in favor of a paper doll Papillon) you will adore this sweet story of a fluffy kitty and some good friends. I look forward to more stories about Papillon - the first one checked out almost before I could discharge it!

ISBN: 9781484717981; Published 2016 by Disney-Hyperion; Purchased for the library