PreS-Gr 2-Mr. Pusskins (S & S, 2006) and Emily are back, and life couldn't be better. Once a dour sourpuss, Mr. Pusskins is now a lovable, smiley cat, happy and secure in his affection for Emily-until the child comes home with a "fabulous surprise." Inside the cardboard box is a mischievous kitten who is intent on wreaking havoc and annoying Mr. Pusskins. In true "it's-so-unfair!" fashion, Emily cannot see that Little Whiskers is a little troublemaker. When she wrongfully accuses the older cat of playing the piano at an ungodly hour and banishes him to the cold backyard, it seems as if life couldn't get any worse. But a contrite Little Whiskers sets everything straight, and the three come together as a happy family. This second installment maintains all of the charm and humor of the first book. Readers unfamiliar with the prodigal Pusskins will lack the background knowledge to appreciate just how patient he is with the kitten but will find plenty to love about him all the same. The combination of bold colors, highly expressive characters, and slightly off-kilter illustrations will pull children in and keep them wanting more. Mr. Pusskins can take his place alongside Slinky Malinki, Jenny Linsky, and Samson the Church Cat as a fictional feline worthy of adoration.-Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Mr. Pusskins may have met his match in this amusing sequel to Mr. Pusskins: A Love Story (2007). Just when life couldn't be better, Emily tells her "dear" cat Mr. Pusskins she has a "fabulous surprise," which turns out to be a fetching white kitten named Little Whiskers. Emily assures Mr. Pusskins he and Little Whiskers will soon be friends and play "lovely" games together. Very disappointed, the dour Mr. Pusskins is hardly in the mood for games, but neither is Little Whiskers--she's busy diabolically disrupting everything in Mr. Pusskins's life. She blocks his TV, eats out of his dish, plays with his toys and interrupts his naps. She even tricks Emily into thinking Mr. Pusskins has caused a ruckus by dancing on the piano keys, leaving Mr. Pusskins banished in the snow and Little Whiskers comfy by the fire. Will they ever be pals? Hilarious cartoon-like illustrations expressively capture the full range of Mr. Pusskins's emotions: anticipation, dismay, irritation, disbelief, betrayal, fury and finally forgiveness. Feline fun. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In curmudgeonly housecat Mr. Pusskins's second outing, his owner thinks he'll enjoy the companionship of a kitten. Wrong! Pusskins gets blamed repeatedly for the kitty's mischief; fortunately, the little scamp has a conscience and eventually comes clean ("'Miaow,' admitted the kitten"). Mr. Pusskins's ordeal is displayed in droll illustrations rendered in suitably bright, intentionally clashing color combinations. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Mr. Pusskins had trouble getting life the way he wanted it in the eponymously titled first book (2006) about the big, rusty-colored cat. He and his young mistress, Emily, are finally happy until Emily brings him a fabulous surprise.  Pusskins doesn't find the tiny, white kitten fabulous; in fact, Little Whiskers does nothing but make life miserable. When Pusskins is blamed for something Little Whiskers has done and the kitten admits culpability, a breakthrough finally occurs. This has the same sweetness cut with spice as the previous story, and the bold illustrations help make the book a great read-aloud.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist