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Ottoline and the Yellow CatChris Riddell
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
by Chris Riddell
Ottoline lives alone in a flat with an odd hairy friend and a great many collections. Together they set out to solve a run of jewel thefts.
A story about children and animals, wry and adventurous in tone. We would put it with children of 7–10, and at a reading age of about 8 for reading alone.
Nothing flagged
We have not flagged any content in this one that a parent would usually want warning about.
Part of a series
This is book 1 of the Ottoline series, so there is more to read if it goes down well — which is worth a great deal with a reluctant reader.
Our take on this book
Ottoline lives in an apartment full of remarkable collections while her parents are away, looked after by her small, hairy, cheese-loving companion Mr Munroe — and together the pair set out to solve a baffling run of jewel thefts and missing lapdogs, all traced to one very smooth yellow cat. Chris Riddell, a former Children's Laureate, fills every page with exquisite, funny, detail-crammed drawings that reward close looking, and the mystery is clever and beautifully paced. It is gently adventurous rather than frightening, with a wry humour that children and adults both enjoy. For a seven- to ten-year-old it is a gorgeous, witty read — as much a pleasure to look at as to read, with the pictures carrying half the jokes — and a lovely choice for a child who likes puzzles, style and a resourceful heroine. The first of a beautifully produced series that children happily collect.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
Ottoline at SeaChris Riddell
Ottoline Goes to SchoolChris Riddell
Anisha, Accidental DetectiveSerena Patel
Harry's MadDick King-Smith
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.