11/21/2016
McAnulty (Beautiful) puts a high-spirited spin on kids’ fascination with favorites in a story starring Mr. Fuzzbuster, a cat determined to stake his claim as his owner’s most beloved pet. The two have been inseparable ever “since he fit in a teacup and she fit in diapers,” but the cat has competition for her attention and affection, now that a goldfish, bird, lizard, and dog have joined the household. Determined to settle matters, Mr. Fuzzbuster writes Lily a note (“Dear Lily, Who is your favorite? Please decide”), after which she tactfully reassures each animal that it is her favorite—of its species. Working in a mix of digital and traditional media, Hemingway (Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus) makes the most of a fairly scant plot, capturing the black cat’s seesawing emotions through big, blue eyes that reflect his smugness, trepidation, and elation. A closing zinger—is it possible that Lily’s “favorite” isn’t a pet at all?—suggests that Mr. Fuzzbuster’s need to be #1 remains undiminished. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Lori Kilkelly, Rodeen Literary Management. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (Feb.)
"This tale of who's the preferred pet will charm animal lovers of all stripes." —Kirkus Reviews
"McAnulty (Beautiful) puts a high-spirited spin on kids' fascination with favorites in a story starring Mr. Fuzzbuster, a cat determined to stake his claim as his owner's most beloved pet." —Publishers Weekly
"The boisterous illustrations, rendered in pencil, ink, and digital media, offer a dramatic accompaniment to the story, while the ending gives readers a nice expectation upset." —Booklist
"With beautiful, colorful illustrations, Mr. Fuzzbuster and little Lily come to life in this sweet book…The story is fun and sweet, pointing out to little ones that people can love more than one pet. What an excellent way to broach the subject of having enough room in your heart as a parent for more than one child! The ending is a bit cheeky, and parents will laugh just like the children. A great addition to any child's library—especially if they have a beloved pet." —Children's Book Review
12/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Mr. Fuzzbuster, a most lovely cat, is Lily's favorite. He knows he is, because "they'd been together since he fit in a teacup and she fit in diapers." Unfortunately, he now has competition—Fishy Face (a fish), King (a lizard), Feathers (a bird), and Bruiser (a most ferocious canine barker) all believe that they are her favorite, and Mr. Fuzzbuster is out to prove that he is her top choice by asking her directly in a personal note. Text repetition creates a pattern easily followed by young readers as Lily speaks to her pets by name and selects each as her favorite (i.e., her favorite fish, her favorite lizard, her favorite bird, and her favorite dog). In the digital art, the large eyes of her animal friends draw readers' attention in focused close-ups or rooms of streaming sunlight, and varied fonts emphasize text. A suggested general purchase for all libraries, this book speaks to the close relationships in families (and between pets). The one truth everyone can agree on is that Lily is everyone's favorite. VERDICT A fair addition for storytimes and family reads.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
2016-10-19
Who's Lily's favorite pet? Pussycat Mr. Fuzzbuster thinks he knows.Mr. Fuzzbuster and the ponytailed white girl have been together since "he fit in a teacup and she fit in diapers." Even though Fishy Face the goldfish, King the lizard, Feathers the parrot, and Bruiser the dog have joined the family, Mr. Fuzzbuster's still sure he's the favorite; he even has documentary proof in an old drawing of Lily's. The others still have doubts, so the pets draft a note asking Lily to decide who's the favorite once and for all. Lily turns to Fishy Face, causing Mr. Fuzzbuster to worry….But Lily says, "Fishy Face, you are my favorite…" (here Hemingway introduces suspense with a page turn) "…goldfish." She tells her pets in turn that each is her favorite of its species. Certain he is the favorite of favorites, Mr. Fuzzbuster consoles the others by telling them how catlike they are (and how he has never considered eating them)…but when Lily specifies that Mr. Fuzzbuster is simply her favorite cat, he decides to leave—until he remembers who his favorite is. McAnulty's text, related in third-person with a tight focus on Mr. Fuzzbuster, slyly exploits the protagonist's overinflated ego. Hemingway's bold and bright cartoon illustrations, a mixture of spot and full-bleed on patterned backgrounds, feature expressive animals and provide a nifty punch line at the close. This tale of who's the preferred pet will charm animal lovers of all stripes. (Picture book. 3-8)
