Tigger and Jasper's New Home. Cheryl Gillespie. Illustrated by Michael LeBlanc. Frederickton, NB: muzikcat88@gmail.com, 2016. 24 pp., pbk. & E-book, $8.64 (pbk.). ISBN 978-0-9950056-1-7 (pbk.). Preschool-grade 1 / Ages 3-6. Review by Meredith Cleversey. *** /4

excerpt:

The sun was beaming down on a little farm in Douglastown. Some horses were grazing in the field while others stood tall and proud.

Tucked in a corner inside the big red barn was a bed of straw where two kittens played together. They hoped to find a new home someday just like their brothers and sisters.

Each day the kittens were frightened by the thundering roar of the tractors, the loud neighing of the horses and the workmen who sounded like giants with their gruff and grumbly voices.

"I can't wait till we find a new home," said the grey kitten. "Me too," agreed the ginger coloured kitten, "Tag!" she called, tackling her sister and it was playtime once again.

Two kittens living on a farm are happy to find out they've been adopted. But as they explore their new home, they realize there are obstacles to overcome—like getting trapped in the refrigerator and knocked into the bathtub—and discoveries to make, like how there's something unusual about the woman who has taken them in.

      Tigger and Jasper's New Home is a sweet story told from the perspective of two kittens adopted by a woman who is blind. Written by Cheryl Gillespie, this is the second edition (the first published in 1996) of a story inspired by true happenings in the author's life with her two cats. Tigger and Jasper's New Home is an interesting tale as readers don't know until near the end of the book that Christie (the woman who adopts the kittens) is blind. Certain scenes that may not make a lot of sense upon first reading—such as Christie's failing to notice one of the kittens darting into the fridge—take on a different meaning at the tale's conclusion, leaving readers to reflect on the content and reread the story from a different point of view.

      The book, itself, has a fairly simple layout, with black text on white pages and soft, childlike illustrations added above or below the words. The larger sections of text might be difficult for young readers trying to read independently. Some sentences are quite lengthy, and the dialogue is not broken into separate paragraphs, meaning that several characters will talk within a single block of words. The illustrations done by Michael LeBlanc are vivid and colourful, but, although there is a lot of action in the text, the images themselves do lack a real sense of movement. However, the kittens in this story are playful, and the way they come to understand that Christie is blind is both amusing and sweet, positive sentiments present throughout the whole of the book.

      Ultimately, Tigger and Jasper's New Home is a joyful tale about family, love, and acceptance. For those unfamiliar with books featuring disabled characters, this story offers a loving (and gently humorous) look of what life is like for someone who is legally blind, as seen from the perspective of two cute and curious kittens.

Recommended.

Meredith Cleversey, a librarian in Cambridge, ON, loves to read, write, and live in a world of pure imagination.

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