Grumpy Cat

Grumpy Cat is socially dysfunctional. He eats on his own, sleeps on his own, spends every day alone. The arrival on the scene of a determinedly chipper and devoted ginger kitten elicits an even darker scowl from our grumpy hero. Desperately trying to shake off his unwanted new friend, Grumpy Cat is eventually forced to rescue Kitten who has enthusiastically followed him up a tree. The ice melts in heart-warming fashion. A book that could fall into the trap of sentimentality doesn’t do so thanks to the author’s beautifully understated and aesthetically pleasing illustrations. Teckentrup has an excellent control of the dynamics of the page. Using a mix of digital and hand-rendered processes, the author conjures up a bold, ‘retro print’ aesthetic with nice use of colour and charming characterisation.

This is a tale that communicates perfectly the simple joy of breaking down barriers and letting people in.