Bandit's Surprise

by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, Vincent Nguyen (Illustrator)

Bandit is a happy cat. He has an owner, Michelle, who loves him, a warm blanket, minced clams for dinner, and a fuzzy toy mouse. But when Mitzi, a new kitten, moves in and messes with Bandit's stuff, Bandit feels threatened. "Paws OFF, purr-brain," he cries when Mitzi goes after Fuzzy Mouse. Will these two cats ever reach a purr-fect friendship? Bandit's c at-titude comes to life in Vincent Nguyen's vivid, retro, full-page and paneled illustrations featuring graphite pencil, ink, watercolor, and digital media.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2010

About the author

My books, Bandit (Marshall Cavendish 2008), Bandit's Surprise (Marshall Cavendish 2010), and Ferret Fun (Marshall Cavendish 2011) all received starred reviews in School Library Journal; Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo (Dial 2004) and Bandit were both International Reading Association Children's Book Council Children's Choices Award recipients; three of my books, Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo (in 2005), Bandit (in 2009), and Ferret Fun (in 2012) were all chosen for the "100 Best Children's Books" in the Bureau of Education and Research's Best of the Year Handbook. Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo and Ferret Fun were nominated for the Missouri Show Me Award; Bandit was nominated for the South Carolina Book Award; and Rooster Can't Cock-a-Doodle-Doo was a Dollywood Foundation selection two years in a row (in 2007 the Dollywood Foundation bought 73,579 copies and in 2008 it bought 88,996 copies). Tea Time, my first board book, was published by Marshall Cavendish in 2010, Foodfright, my first novelty book, was published by PSS in 2003, and Ferret Fun in the Sun was published by Two Lions in May of 2015. (It was a Marshall Cavendish title when Margery Cuyler first acquired it.) Farmer Kobi's Hanukkah Match was published by Behrman House in August of 2015, and it became a National Jewish Book Award Finalist! In 2017, two of my books were published by Apples and Honey Press, a division of Behrman House: The Family and Frog Haggadah and Maddie the Mitzvah Clown. Maddie the Mitzvah Clown became a PJ Library selection and went out to over 21,000 Jewish children in the US and Canada in July 2017. My latest books, Happy Birthday for the Trees, (KarBen) and A Crowded Farmhouse Folktale (Whitman) will both be out in 2020!

I am a member of SCBWI and I have twice co-chaired the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature's One-on-One Conference.
And, I'm one of the co-founders of The Book Meshuggenahs.

I'm also a published humorist. My first humor book, “The Unofficial College Survival Guide,” was published in 1992 by Great Quotations. My second book, “Remote Controls Are Better Than Women Because. . . ,” was published by Longstreet Press in 1993, and my third book, “Telephones Are Better Than Men Because. . . ,” also published by Longstreet Press, came out in 1996. My fourth humor book, “If Men Had Babies. . .,” was published by CCC Publications, LLC in 2001.

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether the toddler and new baby in a story are human, or else they're presented as thinly disguised animals, it's pretty hard to turn this timeworn theme of sibling conflidt into something new and moving. But I think this author succeeds.

Bandit, the older cat, doesn't take a liking to Mitzi, that new kitten. She has the nerve to mess with Bandit's cherished possessions.

Fuzzy Mouse, Bandit's "pet" should not be touched by the new kitten in the house. But Mitzi doesn't show the respect that Bandit demands. (And maybe needs.)

The raw feelings of both characters are conveyed effectively. Yet there's an underlying tone that "Everything is going to work out . . . eventually. I'd call this story spunky but sweet.

FIVE STARS for a moving story, delivered with a light touch sometimes, and with intensity at other times. Always lively!

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars -- Those who live in multicat households will recognize the story here--an older cat's jealousy over the arrival of a new kitten. Lots of cat puns here, and there's not much for those over the target age group. That said, it's a beginner comic-style book that's a nice choice for early readers.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bandit the cat was surprised by the arrival of a new kitten. He was jealous and didn't handle it very well. Wonderful illustrations.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

new to this author, i think i got 3 reads from Karen??! great illustrations, fun read. check it out!

[K. McDevitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the story of a cat who loves his home and finds a new invader ruining it entirely. The new kitten, Mitzi, eats his food and sleeps on his blanket, it's all so unacceptable! So Bandit leaves and gets caught out in the rain! Poor thing! Who rescues him? Mitzi, of course! After that, Bandit isn't thrilled, but is a little more willing to share his things. Maybe the new kitten isn't all bad.

I recently adopted a little kitten, and my older cat is not fond of her. I felt like this book illustrated my home life perfectly, right down to the new kitten playing with the older cat's favorite furry mouse toy. The author and illustrator might as well have studied my house when writing and illustrating this book. In addition to it ringing true, it was a delightful read, with sweet illustrations.

[Mel Raschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The defensive, domesticated tan-and-white cat is back in this sequel to Bandit (2008). He has a new roommate, a little gray kitten, and he is not happy. Mitzy drinks and eats from his bowls, uses his litter box, and, worse of all, plays with Fuzzy Mouse. He swipes at Mitzy's face and is scolded by his owner. In response, Bandit says, "I'm outta here" and leaps through an open window. Later, when he is stuck outside in the rain, Mitzy comes to the rescue and Bandit reluctantly shares some of his precious belongings with her.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I had found this book 2-3 weeks ago when we adopted our new cat. Fun book that helps kids understand integrating a new pet into the family. I enjoyed the stylish art, but we glossed over the pun-filled cat word balloons that Ian wouldn't understand anyways.

[Sharlet Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for a family to read before adding another cat to the family. This is really what the old family cat will act like. The old cat does not understand, yet they will perk up. I will say that adding a new cat is not always the right decision, the old family cat will be mad.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A comic book style picture book with a lot of cat related puns. For example, "Mew-monia" for pneumonia.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Illustrations are interesting, but don't like the made up cat words and there is no real resolution.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were nice. I didn't like the made up cat words. Also, there wasn't a resolution.

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bandit's bad attitude and name-calling went a little overboard in this one, and the cat puns also become tiring. Still neat illustrations though.

[Mary Crytzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about intergrating a cat into the family. I personally like dogs better than cats, so perhaps this was the reason I didn't enyoy this book.Illustrations were cute though.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute.