Frank and the Bad Surprise

by Martha Brockenbrough, Jon Lau (Illustrator)

Overview

AMAZON BEST OF THE YEAR

Frank the cat has it good: Tons of toys, unlimited Whiskies™ and space and quiet to stretch and nap and think and write.

Then his people bring home a box. A box with something unexpected inside. A puppy.

A puppy who doesn’t know the rules of naps. A puppy who slobbers and tackles and barks.

This won’t do.

Frank will just have to find a better home. Should be easy, right?


P R A I S E

“Highly relatable.”
—Horn Book

“A series opener that will delight cat AND dog fans.”
—Kirkus

“Cute and hilarious.”
—Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646145003
Publisher:	Levine Querido
Publication date:	11/12/2024
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Martha Brockenbrough is the author of two other books about Frank and Sunny. She likes both dogs and cats. Follow her on Twitter at @mbrockenbrough and marthabrockenbrough.com.

Author Residence: Seattle, WA

Jon Lau tells whimsical stories that are inspired by nature, animals, and our interactions with them. He is based in Los Angeles.

 

Editorial Reviews

Cute and hilarious” — Booklist

“Lots of white space, repeated vocabulary, and humorous spot and full-page illustrations create a welcoming reading environment for youngsters. The fact that Frank’s humans are a mixed-race gay couple only boosts this book’s value.” — Booklist

“Brockenbrough’s appealing early chapter book features simple, declarative sentences with lots of repetition and cat-centered humor. Lau’s digitally manipulated, painted illustrations showing a slobbery corgi, an expressive cat, and two brown-skinned humans convey both Frank’s moods and the gentle humor.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A series opener that will delight cat AND dog fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Brockenbrough’s wry prose perfectly captures Frank’s feline perspective, and in several of Lau’s paintings, you’ll swear you can almost hear Frank purring. But the best part is the way Brockenbrough engineers a moving reconciliation between the two former enemies, neatly sidestepping schlock and sentiment and going straight for understated emotional truth. It’s positively the cat’s pajamas.” — BookPage

From the Publisher

2022-03-30
Frank, a tuxedo cat, lives the good life until a new addition enters the fold.

When his humans bring home a box—usually a fun thing to climb inside—Frank is horrified to find a corgi puppy. Puppies are not conducive to the good life, so Frank mails a letter to his humans urging them to take the dog back. They don’t oblige, and when the puppy breaks a cardinal rule—she awakens Frank from a nap—Frank swats her (just a little swat) and is placed in his cage. How could his humans do that? When a second letter goes ignored, Frank runs away. But life outside doesn’t turn out exactly how it looked from the window. Other humans don’t want a cat…and it rains…and a bag of garbage hits Frank, so he returns home. When the puppy turns out to be instrumental in Frank’s getting back inside and the humans make some accommodations, Frank changes his opinion of his new situation. Brockenbrough’s appealing early chapter book features simple declarative sentences with lots of repetition and cat-centered humor. Lau’s digitally manipulated, painted illustrations showing a slobbery corgi, an expressive cat, and two brown-skinned humans convey both Frank’s moods and the gentle humor.

A series opener that will delight cat AND dog fans. (Fiction. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews