Ottoline and the Yellow Cat

When I looked up the reviews for my daughter's favorite book, I was surprised to see only a handful of reviews posted for this imaginative and delightful book. Unlike other reviewers, I don't see the comparisons with Pippi Longstocking or Eloise at all, with the exception that all of these girls have parents who are away from home or absent in their lives. Ottoline is, in fact, quite a refreshing heroine after the recent wave of brash and so-called "spunky" protagonists of girls' books. While Pippi Longstocking and Eloise are applauded for their attention-grabbing naughtiness and bravado (which I didn't care for), Ottoline is a more reserved and thoughtful heroine who likes jumping in rain puddles and maintaining her odd collections when she's not jotting down new ideas in her notebook. Ottoline carries out her adventure with the help of her friends and a "clever plan" in a mystery that is a little complex for those younger than 5, but perfect for the 5-10 age group. Even those too young to understand the mystery will still be eager to see the illustrations. As to the reviewer who was unhappy about the reference to gas in the book, a dog is briefly mentioned for having "terrible gas" in his sleep. These are the exact words used by the author, so you can decide for yourself if this is too crude for your children, but it was rather well-received by our young audience. The story is humorous and fun to read (over and over as my daughter will attest) and the illustrations are perfection! Please don't overlook this book based on lack of reviews here or the shortage of marketing here in the states...we are buying a second copy because ours is getting so worn from re-reading and lending to friends!

This is simply one of the finest recent children's books out there: the illustrations are wonderfully thoughtful and clever as is the story. Bravo!

A bit like Pippi Longstocking, Ottoline Brown is left alone while her parents are off on their own adventures. Actually she is not alone but tended to by Mr. Munroe, a mysterious creature rescued from a Norwegian bog. Her apartment on the 24th floor of the P.W. Huffledinck Tower (also known as the Pepperpot Building) is cared for by a team of housekeepers, leaving young Ottoline free to pursue her interests: splashing in puddles and working out tricky problems. When Mr. Munroe brings to her attention a lost dog flyer, Ottoline gets busy with a clever plan to solve this particularly tricky problem that has the police stumped. Ottoline Brown is the charming heroine of Chris Riddell's strange and lovely book, OTTOLINE AND THE YELLOW CAT. The story is a simple mystery, neatly and smartly solved by Ottoline and Mr. Munroe. Someone has been stealing the lap dogs of the society women of the neighborhood, or so it seems. But Ottoline and her hairy, silent companion uncover a canine crime ring led by a sneaky yellow cat. Mr. Munroe must go undercover to break up the ring and return the dogs back to their worried owners. The mystery is nicely interrupted here and there, bringing readers details about the collections of Professor Brown (emperors' hats, meteorites and "mysterious objects of various kinds") and Ottoline (odd shoes and postcards from her parents --- the postcards are on these pages as well), the housecleaning and cooking teams, and a bear living in the building's basement. All of this contributes to a wonderful and fantastic tale. But for kids and grown-ups alike, the real wonder of this book may well be its illustrations. Riddell's line drawings, in black and white with interspersed red, are whimsical and full of amazing, surprising details. From the floor plan of Ottoline's apartment to the alley behind her building, from her eccentric outfits to the cartoonish dog owners, his illustrations are fun and accomplished and the best thing about OTTOLINE AND THE YELLOW CAT. Although the book is recommended for readers 8 to 12 years old, children much younger and even older will enjoy it a great deal. It will also appeal to adults, who will surely appreciate the creative Ottoline, not to mention the imagination of her creator. OTTOLINE AND THE YELLOW CAT is entertaining to read, beautiful to look at, and a funky bridge from picture books to chapter books. --- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat, by Chris Riddell of Edge Chronicles fame, is the kind of book you might imagine if Roald Dahl and Brian Selznick had teamed up on a graphic novel. Ottoline is a young girl whose parents travel the world and leave her home in the family townhouse in the care of a friendly, hairy creature-person named Mr. Monroe. I loved the characters in this book. Ottoline's a little like Pippi Longstocking -- brave and funny and always up for an adventure. And Mr. Monroe.... well, he was so cute I want to adopt him and keep him as a lap dog. Ottoline and Mr. Monroe team up to solve the mystery of a string of neighborhood burglaries -- a plot that is brought to life by the abundant and amazing illustrations.

Chris Riddell has humour and style. My son read this book in one evening, he is waiting for the next one, "Ottoline goes to school". I liked Riddell's work in 'Edge Chronicles', "Far Flung Adventures" and "Muddle Earth" (with Paul Stewart). "Ottoline" is for younger kids (7-8 years); both girls and boys will enjoy it.