Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet

Murphy, Julie. Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet

March 25, 2025 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Catty is part human, part cat, just like her mother Tabby and her grandmother, and has been homeschooled her whole life, rarely seeing other children. When her mother gets a job in a fish cannery, her mother and father decide to send her to third grade in the public school. There are rules about no hissing and scratching, but Catty is ill prepared for navigating the all-human world. Her teachers are fairly understanding, but when Catty shreds a classroom map when one teacher uses a laser pointer to highlight places on it, it tests their patience. While Catty tries to hide her true self at first by wearing a hat and tucking her tail into her pants, she is soon showing her classmates her real nature, to mixed results. Most of the children are supportive, and she wins over others by doing things like saving a class goldfish from being knocked off a desk. She even has two best friends, Jo and Bebe. This is the first book in a purported series, the next being Catty Corner Pounces into Action, out March 25, 2025 as well. (Synopsis from the publisher: "Holy macaroni! Someone is stealing tasty snacks and crafty food art at Friendswood elementary school. Luckily Catty Corner and her best friends, Jo and Bebe, are on the case. Soon they’re following clues and tracking down leads. But the three friends can’t agree on much—is it a ghost, some very hungry mice, or a sneaky thief with a big appetite known as the Gobbler Bandit? Can they catch the culprit before their school’s big Meatball Mania fundraiser, or will it be a foodie fiasco?" 

Strengths: The introductory note where Ms. Murphy talks about how this would have been a book she would have loved as a child was helpful. I can't say that I ever wanted to be a dog, even in third grade, but I'm sure that there are many elementary students to whom this thought will appeal. The idea is fleshed out well, and Catty's reactions to ordinary school things like bells, riding the bus, and being easily distracted all seem like a realistic portrayal of a half cat, half human girl. The illustrations inside are quite charming, and give a good feel for how Catty must seem to her classmates. 
Weaknesses: While it's touching that Catty's mother lets her read the journal that she kept when she entered public school and encourages her to keep track of her feelings as well, it seems odd that the parents wouldn't have made more of an effort to socialize Catty with other children before suddenly dropping her in to public school. 
What I really think: This author's Dear Sweet Pea hasn't circulated well (might just be that peach cover!), and since Catty is in third grade, I will pass on purchase for my middle school collection. This is a good choice for readers who liked Weiner's The Littlest Bigfoot or the Hales' The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl.