Dear Stray

PreS-Gr 2–Days filled with emotional twirls and sticky, spiky, scratchy shared feelings between a young girl and her adopted stray kitten immediately convey to readers it’s okay to be grouchy. The two are kindred spirits, a mirror of each other, both with their claws out ready to pounce. But as time passes, their tenuous relationship becomes calmer and more earnest as they begin to understand each other. Written as journal entries, the story begins each day with “dear stray,” revealing a child’s innermost irritable self and her relationship with the kitten that grows from the prickliest hisses to a shared tenderness guaranteed to appeal to anyone who has ever felt like an irascible feline. Poignant text complemented by strong vibrant watercolor washes evokes feelings in motion. The expressive drawings saturate each page making this story about a tempestuous young girl and her fierce furry companion come to life in the softest way possible.