cover image Papillon Goes to the Vet

Papillon Goes to the Vet

A.N. Kang. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-4847-2881-9

Papillon, a cat so fluffy he can float, gets stuck with the hiccups after swallowing a catnip toy while playing catch with his friend, the red bird he met in the previous book. Worse, the toy’s weight keeps Papillon grounded, so his human keeper, Miss Tilly, whisks him off to the vet, where he’s dejected—until an effective belch sets things right and lets Papillon show off his airborne dance moves for his fellow feline patients. Kang’s mixed-media illustrations have a lightness to match both the understated storytelling and the weightlessness of her hero. As Papillon rides home from the vet’s office in the basket of Miss Tilly’s bicycle—his paws outstretched, eyes closed in delight, and a blankie cape trailing behind him—it’s clear that he’s living his best life. Ages 3–5. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Sept.)