  | Stretchy and Beanie Author: Schachner, Judith Byron | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Beanie, a ginger-headed girl with a fierce heart, is the perfect pal for her newfound companion, Stretchy McHandsome the cat. That is, until Beanie gets it into her head that she should teach Stretchy how to be a perfect pet. Her lessons really curl his whiskers and then it's Beanie who needs a lesson of her own: how to be an accepting friend rather than a bossy-boots.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/01/21)
Booklist (11/01/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2021 It seemed like destiny when the nine McHandsome cats met the nine McBright children, naturally pairing off, but none are so perfectly matched as Stretchy (a ginger cat) and Beanie (a redheaded girl wearing cat ears and a tail). “Both were wild and woolly, / the wildest ever seen. / Of all the fearsome tigers, / they were the king and queen.” Schachner, of Skippyjon Jones fame, matches her rhyming stanzas with energetic illustrations filled with activity, bendy felines, and Beanie’s unconventional flair. A shift occurs when Beanie reads Old Cat, New Tricks and tries to replace their wild antics with lessons and structure. Stretchy is not a fan of either and begins acting out (climbing drapes, leaving puddles on the carpet) to show his displeasure, eventually making a successful bid for freedom. As Beanie sits beneath the tree harboring Stretchy, her siblings—a group of kids of many races and abilities—offer advice on winning back Stretchy. Both girl and cat come to understand that compromise is part of a loving relationship. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
