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From the bestselling author of THE PUPPY PLACE.

Someone has left Otis, an adorable tabby, all alone at the local community center. When Michael and Mia hear about the abandoned kitty, they volunteer to help. Otis is wary of strangers and scared of loud noises. His sad yowls keep the family up all night! Michael knows not just any owner will love this tentative tabby. Can he find Otis a forever home?

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

29 people are currently reading
254 people want to read

About the author

Ellen Miles

175 books219 followers

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5 stars
125 (49%)
4 stars
59 (23%)
3 stars
56 (22%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Cora.
365 reviews51 followers
February 3, 2017
Per my first graders: I liked this book because it was awesome and it had a lot of italics. I like it because it had a orange kitty. I liked it because it had a lot of words that you can learn from. I liked this book because it had good ending. I loved it because it was awesome and it had a lot of parts that, um, you can read. I liked when he was going to sleep with the music. I liked it because it had a lot of cat words.
Profile Image for Jill Stark.
25 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2015
Intermediate: Otis: Kitty Corner by Ellen Miles (April 2011): Independent reading.
I already know that Mya loves animals and especially cats. I thought I would choose a different type of story.
The book, Otis, is about a brother and sister who love animals and would like to have a pet of their own. For an unknown reason, their parents will not allow them to have a pet full-time. When they find an abandoned kitten at the local community center, they want to find it a home. This is such a heart melting story of the need to care for the kitten and give it a family. The story also gives Otis a voice in how he tells us his feelings in situations. Anyone who has love for animals will find this a sweet story to warm their heart.
Profile Image for Samantha Osborne.
492 reviews47 followers
March 23, 2019
A cute story about a family who takes care of a kitten and finds it a forever home
Profile Image for Autumn.
36 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2020
I loved this book so much when I was little, I ended up naming my future orange tabby cat Otis! Is for a younger audience and follows 2 siblings as they find a forever home for a stray kitten. Enjoyable read for anyone, highly recommend.
Profile Image for Samantha Brown.
94 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2019
This was the first kitten corner I read to my daughter she loves the puppy place. She loved this story. Such a cute story
Profile Image for Marlee.
2,016 reviews
November 21, 2020
Quite generic and dull for adults. My children who love animals enjoyed it, despite how easy it was to guess what would happen. Younger children would probably enjoy it even more.
Profile Image for Teena in Toronto.
2,465 reviews79 followers
January 3, 2024
Mia and Michael are in elementary school. They'd like to have a pet but they live in an apartment and their parents don't it's the right time or place to have one.

Mia and Michael are in an elevator at the recreation centre when they see a fast food bag. Thinking it's litter, they go to pick it up and are surprised when it hisses. Inside is an orange tabby kitten. Peter, Michael's guitar teacher, agrees to adopt Otis (named after the elevator he was found in) but discovers it's not a good fit after all. Pete's band practices at his place and the loud noise scares Otis. So it's up to Mia and Michael to find Otis a good home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There was a cat quiz at the end along some info about cats. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Otis' point of view. It is the second book in the Kitty Corner series.

Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2024/01...
Profile Image for Angel.
34 reviews
October 21, 2024
It was good for a kid book, but reading as an adult, it is too small of a story. I found it short and sweet however.
77 reviews
April 15, 2025
Otis was a stray found in a paper bag in an elevator! He ended up with Pete, Michael's guitar teacher.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
7 reviews1 follower
Read
December 14, 2016
1. Author’s Background
The author is Ellen Miles. She was born on April 8,1957. She is now the age of 59. She wrote a lot of books about animals (dogs and cats) mostly. She talks about these kids helping these animals and finding them a good home to have.
2. Literary Time Period
The time period would be around this time period. There isn't a lot of idea of what time period it really is. But we do know that they have the stuff we have.
3. Setting
At home and at school. It mostly talks about them at their house. About them with the cat named Otis. They try helping this kitten by finding him a home. The part about the school is around the beginning when they are with their
4. Characters
The characters are Michael and his little sister Mia. Then there are cats that are also like characters. (not real sure if they are counted as characters) but it is Otis.
5. Theme
The theme is supposed to be kind of sad at first because they found this cat without a loving home. But then it gets happier because good things happen to the cat. The cat find the main character and they help this cat out. Find it a good loving home.
6. Plot Summary
Mia and Michael want a pet more then anything.But until they get one of their own, the family fosters cats and kittens.They give them the love and attention they need, and help them find their perfect homes. This adorable kitten is abandoned at the local community center, and Michael steps in to help. Otis is afraid of loud noises, and his sad yowls keeps the family all up at night. ( the cat wouldn't be good at my house) Michael knows not the perfect owner will love this talkative cat.
7. Literary Devices
The main characters- they bring hope to these cats that need homes and they are most likely successful in what they do.
The emotions- It gives us different emotions for the animal that they are helping. Making us feel sad for this cayt then it gets a forever home.
8. Memorable Quotes
Michael- "Chicago!" he plays basketball and he loves the team.
Pete-"hey little dude" this is when the right person meets his forever animal. When Pete meets the cat named Otis.
Profile Image for Jennifer Rayment.
1,460 reviews78 followers
August 2, 2011
Jake's Review: I really didn't want to read this one, but Mom made me. It is too young for me and even if I was that young, its still too girly for me. I did like that the cat's name was Otis and we used to have a cat named Otis. I liked that the kids were big on helping pets. It was too goody goody though, kids don't act all polite and smart like that all the time. Little kids like that little girl Jesse plays with might like it, since it does teach you the proper way to take care of cats.
Jake's Rating:6/10

Mom's Review: Adorable little book for a little girl from 6-8. I agree with Jake it is a little too goody two shoes for both me and him, but it would definitely appeal to the younger girl reader (I know its sexist, but I would have liked it at that age) Good tale on the importance of responsible pet ownership, compassion towards animals and a great book to bring up conversations when kids are interested in becoming pet owners. Also about the importance of finding the "right" home for an animal. And hey, its about cute kitty cats, so whats not to like. Enjoyed the supposed thoughts of the kitten, sort of made me smile. I also got a kick out of the fact that they found Otis in a fast food bag and when we first brought home our cat Otis, the first thing he did was try to steal fries out of my fast food bag.
Mom's Rating: 7/10
Profile Image for Ali.
718 reviews
April 4, 2014
One day when Mia and Michel found a kitty at the basket ball stadium all alone. They took it home and they showed it to their mom and dad. Mia and Michel were so happy to hear that their parents said that they were going to foster the kitten. Soon their friend came over and the kitten liked him so much and he liked the kitten so much. That's how they found the kitten named Otis a forever home.
Profile Image for Sarah.
5 reviews7 followers
June 10, 2012
I read this book because it was part of my daughter's summer reading assignment and I wanted to be able to quiz her to check reading comprehension...but really, this is a cute book!!! So share with your children!!! :)
Profile Image for Maggie.
2,134 reviews50 followers
August 24, 2011
Millie "love-y dove-y dove-yd" this book. She loves all the Kitty Corner and Puppy Place books. She says she can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Ms. B.
3,749 reviews77 followers
October 23, 2011
Cute story about a kitten who needs a home.
Profile Image for Twyla.
1,766 reviews61 followers
February 3, 2012
Otis needed a home but he yowled all the time.When Micheal turned soft music on she didn't yowl at all.Then they decided that they should give it to Pete.Auryn 8yo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
350 reviews
May 22, 2012
At first I thought it was sad because someone left Otis in o brown paper bag . But then some kids took him under there wing
Profile Image for Gideon.
187 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2013
it was interesting that otis did't like pete's bands music but loved the music from Michal's ipod.
Profile Image for Amy.
1,187 reviews
August 6, 2013
I really liked this book because it was about cats and I liked how it ended. I also really liked the people because I didn't get them mixed up.
Review by B., age 9
Profile Image for Aiden Cornell.
8 reviews1 follower
Read
June 10, 2015
even as a teenager i still enjoy these books along with puppy place series, granted i am an animal lover.
Profile Image for Jade.
7 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2013
I liked it because it was cute and happy at the ending.
Profile Image for Xander Kennedy.
722 reviews7 followers
March 29, 2017
I sometimes struggle to rate the books I read to the kids. They seem to thoroughly enjoy them. That's what counts.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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