In this engaging book for middle-grade readers, Nichols uses his background as a writing tutor to help kids hone their reading skills and vocabulary building through a series of 20 short stories. The first batch of vignettes focuses on the adventures of a close-knit group of animal friends living in Savanna Town, while the collection’s second half centers on Lily, a fluffy white cat belonging to a little girl named Rhonda. The stories teach values such as honesty and integrity as the characters navigate challenges children will sympathize with, such as losing gracefully, sharing, and dealing with school bullies. The animals have dreams too —in one memorable scene, Lily fantasizes about being a rapper whose fans throw cat treats onto the stage.

Each story includes several vocabulary words that are defined in context, as well as questions adults can use to facilitate further discussion and enhance reading comprehension. In an entry about the importance of helping others, children are encouraged to identify specific plot points, such as why the school got damaged and why the children decided to help fix it. Other questions are more subjective—readers are invited to talk about whether, like one character, they are afraid of heights, or why they think a student hid his feelings of anger from his teacher. This will help young people understand and connect with the text while creating an opportunity to discuss some complex feelings.

Eastburn’s colorful illustrations show the smiling, wide-eyed animals interacting with each other at school, home, and other settings like the pond or the park, offering just enough detail to help children visualize the worlds they inhabit while filling in the rest with their own imagination. This book’s main purpose is to serve as an educational tool, but these playful and relatable characters make sure learning is fun, too.

Takeaway: Twenty short, entertaining stories about friends and cats, to sharpen reading skills.

Great for fans of: Peter Guthrie’s Little Worlds; The Scholastic Read-Aloud Anthology

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+