THE ADVENTURES OF MISS PETITFOUR by Anne Michaels
In brief: On windy days, Miss Petitfour and her sixteen cats have adventures in this sweetly whimsical collection of tales, which include a quest for marmalade and a trip to a jumble tale.
What makes it a great readaloud? If Mary Poppins and Amelia Bedelia had a baby who grew up to be an adventurous cat lady, it would be Miss Petitfour. Her "just-the-right-size" adventures are also sized just right for morning readalouds, and many kids will love memorizing the frequently mentioned names of her sixteen cats (Minky, Misty, Taffy, Purrsia, Pirate, Mustard, Moutarde, Hemdela, Earring, Grigorovitch, Clasby, Captain Captain, Captain Catkin, Captain Cothespin, Your Shyness, and Sizzles).
But be aware: This book definitely veers straight into twee territory. If this annoys you or your kids within the first few pages, you may want to set it aside—it doesn't get less so.
Quotable: “Sometimes things work out differently than you expect, and sometimes that's when the best things happen.”
John Midas discovers that his new ability is kind of a curse when everything he touches turns to chocolate.