The Magic of the Right Book
In a room full of books, why do you always pick Kitty-Corn?
It’s funny, because there are literally thousands of excellent children’s books and yet I always gravitate toward Kitty-Corn! There are a few reasons that are probably obvious… it’s a pink kitten and a unicorn, and there’s glitter… so there’s that.
But also, I pick Kitty-Corn because it’s an instant winner in so many scenarios. Reluctant readers? Check. Shy kids? Check. Gift for a grandkid? Check. Already have it? Well, there are four more in the series.
It’s a perfect fantasy book for children who love unicorns, cats, parakeets, and geckos. The message is simple in every single book - be true to yourself, and be a good friend. Somehow, Kitty-Corn manages to say quite a lot with those two very simple ideas, without ever feeling preachy.
If I were to meet Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham, I’d probably fangirl into a starstruck-heart-eyes puddle. Equally, though, if I met whoever told them to make the words “Kitty” pink and “Unicorn” purple every time they show up, I’d probably nominate that person for a Nobel Prize. I cannot tell you how much that makes my really reluctant readers relax.
When we opened, I had a young girl come in, absolutely a ball of anxiety. Her grandparents brought her, and she didn’t want to tell them that she didn’t know how to read yet. She was easily in first or second grade. She was so overwhelmed and embarrassed that she ended up having a huge fit in the store with tears and yelling, and finally stormed out. Well, they brought her back in, and I let Kitty-Corn do its magic.
She whispered to me that she didn’t know how to read, so I asked her if she knew any of the words in the book. She was convinced that she didn’t know even one. So I showed her Kitty. And I showed her Unicorn. I pointed out the colors and told her, “There, now you know two. And they’re the most important words in the whole book.”
Her relief was palpable. It was a lifeline to reading.
To this day, if I have a shy kid, a sad kid, or just a kid who doesn’t really look like they’re feeling it… I grab Kitty-Corn. I might sit down and just read it to myself out loud, but chances are, if I look up, those kids are creeping closer.
Entranced by a pink kitten and a unicorn with a flowing purple mane and golden hooves, telling a story about being true to themselves and good friends to each other.
