Kitten in the Candy Corn

Animal Ark Holiday Special #12

by Ben M. Baglio, Ann Baum (Illustrator)

Halloween is just a few days away, and Mandy Hope and her best friend James Hunter are ecstatic to begin the celebration. But their plans are put on hold when their friend John's family receives a package full of candy corn from America, and as the friends begin chowing down they discover that a black Burmese kitten with orange eyes is hiding beneath the sticky treat.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Middle Grade, Halloween, Fiction, Kids, Realistic Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Ben M. Baglio created the brief for two series of children's books - Dolphin Diaries and Animal Ark. Dolphin Diaries features a girl and her family from Florida, who travel around the world as marine biologists and study dolphins. Animal Ark features two children who work together to help animals and solve animal-related mysteries. The books were written by commissioned writers in the UK under Baglio's instruction using the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Each ghostwriter is named with a 'Special Thanks' on the copyright page.

Using his real name he also wrote the book series The Pet Finders Club, featuring a group of three children who search for peoples lost pets.

Reviews

[Krissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Rated by my daughter*

Definitely not one of my favorite mommy/daughter books. But my daughter loved it so who cares what I think? Lol

[Kimberly Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story I read with my 6yo who laughed out loud several times.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are wonderful for that child who wants to be a veterinarian or is just animal crazy.

That being said- these do get a bit formulaic and I can't see myself reading more of them as an adult. I read these as a child but didn't remember much about them- which was interesting to me because I remember a lot about books I read as a child. It turns out that they aren't particularly memorable.

They are wonderful for what they are- but they aren't the sort of juvenile fiction that an adult will find enjoyable to read. Even feeling a bit sentimental about them due to reading them in childhood, rereading two of these was enough. :)

[Violet Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book Kitten in the Candy Corn. It was a very funny book. I was very surprised when a kitten popped out of the candy. It sounded crazy when the cat was running around with paint and staining everything! I enjoyed the ending when the kitten now had an owner. It also looks very cute in the front photo. I enjoyed this book because I like cats a lot. This book is a good book for people who like cats.

[♥Mrs.Ally Cullen♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first Animal Ark book I ever read, and I LOVED IT!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I didn’t like this book but by the middle it was actually not that bad. However I have to say that for kids; there are just a lot of words and phrases in here that there’s no way an 8 year old will be able to read. I used to hate having to ask what words meant as a child...it disrupted my flow. I guess that’s why I didn’t really get into reading until I was 11 lol. Anyway this takes place in an English town and there’s an old lady everyone thinks is a witch but she’s actually cool and has a cozy house and then they find this kitten in a bag of candy corn for some reason and he’s black so in the end the ‘witch’ takes the kitten in and they have a Halloween party at her cool house. It gives off spooky vibes even if I’m way too old for it. So I ended up kinda enjoying it lol

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This read just like any classic middle grade book written in the 90s. Very cute, formulaic, and not ground breaking in any way. Children of the 80s and 90s looking for a comfort read during spooky season, look no further than Kitten in the Candy Corn.

[bookishdoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was 100% adorable

[Chelsea Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable, but cute. The kids loved it lol

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

a truly wonderful series

[Austin Tsulilohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cute! Kittens? Candy Corn? HALLOWEEN?! What’s not to love?!

[Amber Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had a few different twists that I thought you were spectacular in the setting of Halloween.

[Annie]

Omg wait I was obsessed with this one

[Iñaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 estrellas

muy tierno. me encantó pumpkin, aunque a veces me costaba seguir leyendo. quiero un gato.... :(

[Jacque · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8-year-old daughter checked this book out from the library, and then I read it aloud to her. She loved the book so I'd say it's a hit for the target audience (children). It was a bit of a chore for me to read it since I am not the target audience.
As a forty-something adult, I didn't like the frequent references to Mandy's dad being on a diet. I know it's a reality in life that you'll probably learn about adults being on diets but I felt that it wasn't a necessary element of the story and encourages a negative relationship with food.
The things I did like about the book: there's a woman living in the woods who resembles a witch (but she isn't actually a witch and isn't actually scary), the good kids get to set up a nice Halloween prank to scare the bullying kids, and of course the kitten finds a good home in the end.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Kitten in the candy corn,Mandy is visiting a friend, when his mom screams. She and John find his mom in the kichen. She claims that the candy on the counter is moving. When Mandy leans over the box, a black kitten jumps out of the candy corn.When she doesn't see a collar there is no question that the kitten was abandoned.Then one question remains- can they find a home for the kitten before Halloween?


I liked this book alot.I liked that the kitten was energetic and fun.I also liked that Mandy and James try so hard to help an animal in need of a good home.


I reccomend this book for any one who can read.I also reccomend it for people who love animals.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good kids book! This one was inscribed "Katie May 2006." My kids have outgrown them, but this is a great series! The Animal Ark has a visit from "Pumpkin" a small black kitten at Halloween time. The kids help find out about vandalism in their town and find a new home for the abandoned kitten.

[•°❀Imargienaryfrnd❀°• · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prime reason I bought this book from the booksale store is the little black kitten on the cover with a lovely purple ribbon which needless to say is my second favorite color next to black and has caught my attention. It's to my liking though. It might be years ago but I clearly remember how I enjoyed reading this Animal Ark.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for anyone who loves animals and likes all the other books in this series. There are parts where you know ther is rusling and you think something bad will happen but a cute little kitten pops out.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

part of the animal ark series.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would recommend it to younger kids.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Halloween at Animal Ark when a package of candy corn is delivered and with it, a tiny black kitten.

[Audrey Cutlip · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but it really did not keep my interest as much as I hoped it would. Although it was really a cute book.

[Shayma · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a veary cute and funny one i loved reading

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many and James's friend got some candy corn and they had to come taste it.They found a cat and found it a home.Auryn

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reread this book many times as a child because it is a Halloween book. There aren't many of those!

This is a cute read and great for any animal lover.

[Taylor Troncin]

Loved this series when I was younger. Still a huge animal lover and would like to read the rest of this series!

[Jane M · Rating 5 out of 5]

luv it so much its puuurfect

[Alexandra Lindner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!