The Children’s Book Review | December 19, 2017
Written by Stacy McAnulty
Age Range: 3 and up
Hardback: 40 pages
Publisher: Two Lions, 2017
ISBN: 978-1503948389
What to expect: Pets, Family, Love
Mr. Fuzzbuster is a confident cat. He’s been around since his little human, Lily, was in diapers, and that makes him the favorite! Plus, he has a picture she drew to prove it. That’s why it drives him crazy that the new pets in the house keep claiming to be Lily’s favorite. The nerve! The bird, the lizard, the fish, and even the mangy dog all tell Mr. Fuzzbuster that no, indeed, they are Lily’s favorite.
Tired of the charade, Mr. Fuzzbuster gets to work. He writes a note to Lily asking the question he already knows the answer to: Who is your favorite? Except, Mr. Fuzzbuster gets an answer he didn’t quite expect! Can he learn to accept that he is one of the many loved by Lily, or should he pack his bags and go?
With beautiful, colorful illustrations, Mr. Fuzzbuster and little Lily come to life in this sweet book. You can tell by the tilt of Mr. Fuzzbuster’s eyes that he’s one confident, happy kitty (that is until he learns the hideous truth!). All of the animals are delightfully rendered, and King the lizard even wears a jaunty crown. The story is fun and sweet, pointing out to little ones that people can love more than one pet. What an excellent way to broach the subject of having enough room in your heart as a parent for more than one child! The ending is a bit cheeky, and parents will laugh just like the children. A great addition to any child’s library – especially if they have a beloved pet.
Highly recommended.
Available Here:
About the Author
Stacy McAnulty
STACY MCANULTY is certain she’s her mom’s favorite. Her younger brother disagrees. She’s the author of Beautiful, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff; Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach; and 101 Reasons Why I’m Not Taking a Bath, illustrated by Joy Ang. Originally from upstate New York, she now lives in Kernersville, North Carolina, with her three children, two dogs, and one husband. She doesn’t have a favorite. You can find her online at www.stacymcanulty.com.
Did you know Mr. Fuzzbuster loves writing notes? He wants to send cards to young readers across the country. Maybe he will be your favorite.
About the Illustrator
Edward Hemingway is a writer and artist living in Brooklyn, New York. He has written feature stories for GQ magazine and comics for Nickelodeon, and his artwork has been included in several shows across the country. He has written and illustrated the children’s books Bump in the Night, Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship, and Bad Apple’s Perfect Day, as well as Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus. He is the illustrator of F. L. Block’s middle-grade novel, My Miserable Life, and Tiny Pie by Mark Bailey and Michael Oatman. An undergraduate of Rhode Island School of Design and a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, he teaches creative writing at the master’s level at SVA. Learn more about him online at www.edwardhemingway.com.
Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s The Favorite, written by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by Edward Hemingway, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s The Favorite by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Bedtime Stories, Birds, Geese, Leslie Helakoski, Owls, and Picture Books.