When Kathy finds a small stray kitten some amazing things happen. Story's from a Mom's view of the love, caring and patience needed when a child wants to own a pet. Recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. Delightful illustrations!
This short delightful book is told from a young Mom's perspective and details the love, patience, understanding that is needed when a young child wants to own a pet. The book is suitable for classroom reading also and has earned a 5 STAR rating from Readers' Favorite.
Excerpt
I want to help you find your way,
My pre-teen Kathy said that day.
She was holding a small little kitten.
In the palm of her hand
It looked like a mitten.
Professional Reviews Cheryl E. Rodriguez
A Going Home Surprise by Ann Marie Hannon is a story about a young girl and a lost kitten. Kathy has a knack for finding lost animals. One day while traveling with her mom, Kathy discovers a scared and pitiful looking kitten. Kathy and her mother decide to rescue the fragile little kitten and take it to Dr. Flavia, their local veterinarian. With special care, the kitten begins to heal and Kathy’s love begins to grow. Soon Kathy desires to have this kitten for her very own. Kathy knows she must ask her mother for permission to keep the precious kitten. But is Kathy really ready to own a pet?
Ann Marie Hannon shows the special bond between a pet and their owner in A Going Home Surprise. Hannon uses a subtle rhyming scheme, making it easy to read. The bright and colorful illustrations nicely complement the story line and help to reveal the setting and the emotions of the characters. The narrative is told from the mother’s point of view, cultivating a tone of nurturing and parental influence. This technique coincides well with the author’s intention for parents to use the story as a means of discussing pet ownership with their child. The young heroine shows tenderness and compassion toward animals, making her a good example to follow. Woven into the narrative's lost and found plot are lessons of responsibility, animal care, and decision making. In the end, A Going Home Surprise reveals the major benefit of having a pet; you receive an irreplaceable best friend.
Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite
Kathy is frequently rescuing stray animals. But when she finds a little kitten, lost and alone, full of fleas and no purrs, she knows that she has to get it to the vet quickly. She begs her mom to drive quickly but carefully just to make sure this small bit of fluff stayed alive. Mom senses that this kitten is more than just another one of Kathy’s rescues, with the bond between Kathy and the kitten they soon called Mitten evident almost immediately. But the test remains: will Kathy live up to her responsibilities of caring properly and regularly for Mitten? Pets need more than love and any child wanting to own a pet needs to fully appreciate the responsibility that goes along with owning one.
Ann Marie Hannon’s picture book story, A Going Home Surprise, is a delightful way to teach young readers the importance of caring for a pet responsibly. The main character, Kathy, is described as a pre-teen, but I think the nature of this story and the beautiful illustrations that accompany it suggest a girl of six or seven. Otherwise, this story flows nicely with clear, simple language and almost rhyming verse. The author’s compassion for animals is evident and the message is clear: it takes more to care for a pet than to just want one. Love is a multi-dimensional responsibility and sometimes a lot of work. Kathy has compassion for animals, but in this story she appears to be appreciative of all that it takes to care for her new pet, Mitten. A beautiful story.
Reviewed By Lisa McCombs for Readers’ Favorite
Pre-teen Kathy makes a life purpose of rescuing homeless or lost animals and restoring them to their home or finding a suitable family for adoption. Usually the animal is close to her home, but one day she discovers a tiny, scared kitten in need of medical help. Riddled with fleas, listless and sad, the kitten worried Kathy with its forlorn behavior. Kathy feared that the kitten would not survive a trip to the vet. The kitten was so small and so sad. Doc Flavia saved the day, though, and Kathy returned home to nurture Mitten as her very own forever friend, while sharing the joys of pet adoption.
A Going Home Surprise by Ann Marie Hannon is a sweet story of a little girl with a heart of gold. Kathy is a good example of the kindness we sometimes look for in our children. Ann Marie Hannon provides the reader with a rhyming book that encourages readers to respect our furry friends. I particularly liked the pre-story explanation of the book’s purpose. Owning a pet is a huge responsibility that is often overlooked amidst the initial excitement of adding a new family member. Oft times we are blinded by the novelty of owning a pet rather than the reality of what that means. A Going Home Surprise presents good material for a moral lesson or an introduction to the importance of pet adoption. Whether used as classroom reading material, independent reading, or in conjunction with animal shelters, I find this an exceptional addition to any child’s reading list.
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