BOOK REVIEW: Archie Snufflekins Cat by Katie Harnett

BOOK REVIEW: Archie Snufflekins Cat by Katie Harnett

Flying Eye Books
August 2016
Hardcover, $24.99
Reviewed by Steph O’Connell

Picture Book

6/10

This is the story of Archie Snufflekins Oliver Valentine Cupcake Tiberius Cat who lives on Blossom Street.

He’s Archie when he visits Mr Green at number three, Snufflekins (and Snookums, and Sweetie-Pie, and Cupcake) when he visits Madame Betty at number thirteen, Valentine when he models for Miss Fernandez of number eighteen’s painting, Tiberius when he does some gardening at number fourteen… he stops at every house on the street except one; number eleven.

Until one day he does. And he keeps Mrs Murray there company. Eventually everyone on the street starts looking for him, and he brings life to the house at number eleven, which never had any visitors before he came calling.

 

This is a cute story along the not-unvisited idea that we have no idea what cats are doing when they’re out in the world. We have no idea who they might be spending time with, and what names they might go by when with those people. 

It also has an underlying message about community and friendship and common interests. 

But I just wasn’t in love with the style of illustration.

It has its appeals, for sure, as it is not unlike the drawings of a child, possibly due in part to the tools used. The images are reminiscent of those drawn with textas, with inconsistent and at times almost messy shading. 

This would be a great book for cat-lovers, though I’m still not sold on the illustrations.

 

Category: Book Reviews, Other Reviews