MIKE THE MAGICAL COUGHING CAT

Mike, a fluffy gray stray, has been searching for the perfect family. Older companions Annabell and Rose seem ideal, with their friendly faces, generous supply of tuna cans, and “hands just right for belly scratches.” But when the pair argue over who will take responsibility for Mike (“I can’t look after a cat! I already have a parrot.” “No, you don’t!”), Rose makes a wish for a parrot (“Then you’d have to take care of this darn cat”), and Mike suddenly coughs up a bright yellow bird. More wishes ensue…but Mike worries: What if his wishes go wrong? Takac’s friendly artwork employs sweet, rounded, soft shapes that create warmth and comfort, while dynamic diagonal compositions during the transformation scenes generate energy and movement. The illustrations reward multiple readings with delightful background details and visual jokes. Mixed text formats—traditional narrative combined with comics-style speech bubbles—create an engaging reading experience that bridges the picture-book and early graphic novel formats. Takac cleverly puts a fresh spin on the typical “pet needs a home” narrative by exploring what happens when wishes go awry, leading to wonderfully absurd situations and offering silly visual gags for young readers while providing more sophisticated humor for older ones. Rose is brown-skinned, while Annabell is pale-skinned.