I confess I expected dogs when I eagerly signed up to review THE PAWED PIPER, written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Chinlun Lee, but was utterly charmed by this cat-centric picture book. Written in the first person, Robinson never reveals the name of the young girl who hatches an irresistible plan to get a purry, furry, warm, soft, and cuddly kitty of her own. Only Hector, Granny’s beloved black and white cat, is named. I particularly got a kick out of Hector sprawled across a newspaper, as my father’s cat used to help him read all the time.
The title and storyline are both reminiscent of The Pied Piper of Hamelin, with this narrator possessing an uncanny ability to lure felines instead of rats or children. In truth, the young girl desires a single cat to call her own, but ends up attracting a plethora of delightfully expressive and unique feline friends. I adore the double-page spread where the cats have commandeered every conceivable spot in the family room and are so poetically described. My favorite felines, both in language and illustration, are the grumpy cats with scowling faces!
Will our young narrator keep any or all of the cats? Even after she sees LOST CAT posters plastered all around town? You’ll need to read THE PAWED PIPER to discover the surprising and delightful ending.
Michelle Robinson (who lives in England) is the author of multiple picture books, including There’s a Lion in My Cornflakes and How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth. Click here to access her website
Chinlun Lee (who lives in Taiwan) also illustrated Totally Wonderful Miss Plumberry and is the author-illustrator of Her One Hundred Dogs and more.
WRITERS' RUMPUS 
This sounds adorable! It’s so, so easy to end up with too many cats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a fun picture book. The illustrations are charming and the lyrical text is a delight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun spin on the Pied Piper story, which has always been a favorite of mine. Terrific illustrations, too. Look forward to reading this one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like my kind of book (I think to myself, as I sit in cat hair-covered clothing). I hope one of the cats has kitten(s) in the end…I guess I’ll have to read it find out what happens!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait to read this especially as a cat lover.
LikeLiked by 1 person