about the book
Bad Kitty has always had attitude, but now she crossed the line! Constantly hissing and scuffling with the drooling new Puppy, it’s time for obedience school—for both of them!
Off they go to Von Gloom’s School for Wayward Pets, and although the school itself looks like a spooky mansion, their teacher, Miss Dee, is kind and patient. Uncle Murray, the bus driver, has all sorts of funny insights on pet behavior. And the other “bad pets”—well, let’s just say they make the school interesting. An ill-mannered bunny, Dr. Lagomorph, believes he is a mutant super villain and Putunia, the temperamental cat-hating bulldog, thinks Bad Kitty is a cow!
Through the day’s activities, Puppy follows all the rules, but the sarcastic Kitty isn’t in favor of taking directions. While Puppy proves to be an arts and crafts genius, Kitty is shocking the others with her show-and-tell contribution—a yucky hairball!
It doesn’t matter what Bad Kitty does, Miss Dee firmly believes that this little black and white feline is really a good pet; she tries her best to help this “catitudinal” pussycat make friends. The thing is…Bad Kitty is pretty sure she doesn’t want to be friends, especially with that cat-hating bull dog!
about the author
Nick Bruel’s father was a professor of psychology as well as a talented author and illustrator. Nick’s mother once asked young Nick what animal he’d like to be, and his answer was a kangaroo. So it isn’t surprising that when he was grew up, Nick, like his dad, wrote and illustrated his first book—about a kangaroo!
After attending Haverford College, Nick began a career as a freelance illustrator and cartoonist. After his father died, Nick found a book his father had written, Bob and Otto, which Nick then illustrated.
Sometimes you’ll find Nick’s books in the graphic novel section of the library. Nick says that many of the style elements used for comic books work very well in picture books—sound effects, thought balloons, and multiple drawings on one page.
Nick lives with his wife Carina, daughter Isabel, and recently bathed cat Esmerelda in Tarrytown, New York. His studio is in New York City. In his spare time he collects PEZ dispensers and grows tomatoes in his backyard.
Sources:
Author website
Bad Kitty website
Author interview : Macmillan’s Children - YouTube
Author interview : The Busy Librarian
Also by Nick Bruel:
Bad Kitty Drawn to Trouble. Roaring Brook Press. 2014.
Bad Kitty for President. Roaring Brook Press. 2012.
Bad Kitty Meets the Baby. Roaring Brook Press. 2011.
Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray. Roaring Brook Press. 2010.
Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty. Square Fish. 2010.
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