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                                                                  "Entertaining, exciting, and full of sass…

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​​Azenberg’s fourth installment in the Paws Elementary series gracefully leaps into the world of friendship, jealousy, and ballet with a delightful story of an ambitious kitty’s journey to understanding. The glamorous Daisy dreams of starring as the Sugar Plum Kitty in the upcoming ballet performance, but when her best friend Minnie unexpectedly lands the lead role, Daisy’s jealousy threatens their friendship. Azenberg’s playful, child-friendly prose effortlessly captures the ups and downs of emotions young readers can relate to—from the excitement of auditions to the sting of jealousy and the importance of making amends. The rhythmic, rhyming text is both engaging and accessible, while vivid imagery brings the characters’ personalities to life. Li Liu’s warm, expressive illustrations beautifully complement the story, adding depth to the kittens’ journey and capturing the joy of ballet. At its heart, the book teaches young readers about the complexities of friendship and the value of sharing dreams. Daisy’s realization that she and Minnie can both shine in their own ways offers a powerful lesson in emotional growth, empathy, and understanding.

This delightful read, perfect for helping little ones navigate their feelings and support those they care about, is a must-have for public and school libraries." – The Prairies Book Review

 

 

​​"In Daisy, Minnie, and the Sugar Plum Kitty by Jessica Azenberg, Daisy is desperate for the role of Sugar Plum Kitty in her ballet school’s production of The Nutcracker, but jealousy takes over when the role goes to her best friend, Minnie. But when her moms intervene, she begins to see that she should be pleased for her friend, not jealous. A dream teaches her that jealousy is destructive, and she also learns that everyone’s dreams can come true, not just one person’s.

Daisy, Minnie, and the Sugar Plum Kitty by Jessica Azenberg is a lovely, heartwarming story accompanied by some beautiful illustrations by Li Liu. Animal-based stories resonate better with children because they are more likely to enjoy them. But this is an educational book, too, teaching children that jealousy can destroy friendships and that true friendship can overcome bumps in the road. It also teaches kids to keep dreaming of what they want to achieve; there’s more than enough space in the world for everyone to achieve what they want. This is the fourth book in the Paws Elementary Series that teaches kids that they can achieve all their dreams if they learn how to face their fears. This wonderful book should be a part of every child’s life – on their own home bookshelves and as part of their school or library reading clubs. The more they read this book, the easier they will understand that negative emotions just get in the way of what they want to do. Highly recommended story for children everywhere."

​– Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favorite

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