Ruffles and the Teeny Tiny Kittens
By Author / Illustrator
David Melling
Genre
Friendship
Age range(s)
3+
Publisher
Nosy Crow Ltd
ISBN
9781788009911
Format
Paperback / softback
Published
13-01-2022
Synopsis
Ruff! Ruff! Meet Ruffles, the playful puppy who faces all the tricksy troubles of preschool life in this new picture book series from bestselling author and illustrator David Melling. Just like every pre-schooler, Ruffles the puppy experiences all the ups and downs of daily life as he learns about the world around him. There are LOTS of things he likes and LOTS of things he doesn't... and he doesn't always get things quite right! The Teeny Tiny Kittens have come to stay and Ruffles is NOT happy. They pounce and purr and snore and jump and POOP! Worst of all, they want to play with Big Blue Blankie, and Ruffles doesn't want to share. But the Teeny Tiny Kittens don't understand and there's trouble when Big Blue Blankie is accidentally ripped. Luckily, Ruffles' new feline friends show him that sharing together is the very best way to make friends and play.
With brilliantly observed and hilarious animal illustrations by David Melling, whose series, Hugless Douglas, has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The hilarious follow up to Ruffles and the Red, Red Coat, where Ruffles does NOT like wearing his coat on a rainy day! A perfect picture book series for bedtime! Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a free 'stories Aloud' audio recording. Just scan the QR code and listen along!
Reviews
Samantha
Ruffles is a playful puppy, who just like every young child, experiences all of the ups and downs of daily life as he learns about the world around him. There seem to be lots of things that he likes and lots that he does not and at first the kittens are something he does not like! They pounce and purr and snore and jump and poop. Ruffles just about tolerates these actions but when they want to play with Big Blue Blankie, Ruffles does not want to share.
This was something that our Nursery and Reception children were able to relate to and through Ruffles we were able to discuss the reasons behind the refusal to share. We talked through the idea that this reaction is not necessarily bad but stems from a sense of protection over one's own toys and belongings that they care most about. As the story develops, the benefits of sharing come to light.
For a cohort, some of whom during to recent life events have had limited experiences of sharing, this was a great story to explain how sharing toys opens up opportunities for playing and making friends. One of the children in Reception said that the kittens were like his twin siblings who were now crawling and wanted 'everything that he had'. This opened up further discussions about younger siblings and upcoming additions to the families of some of our children. Although the kittens are frustrating and annoying at first by the end of the book Ruffles learns that 'playing is so much more fun when you share'.
Picture Book / Reviewed by Samantha Hughes
Suggested Reading Age 3+