While the artwork of Fiona and the Peculiar Praise is bright, clear, and gorgeous I don't think the message it's trying to send works very well. Praise makes everyone feel good and feel seen. But calling someone cute or beautiful or any other similar adjective shouldn't be seen as a bad thing. That's all some want. Maybe it's small. Maybe it's vain. But it can also be important. I do applaud standing up for your accomplishments at the same time. Anyway, it's a cute picture book and I think most kids will enjoy it.

Fiona is full of fantastic qualities and abilities, but much to her confusion is only praised for her looks. This book is a wonderful lesson for girls and boys (and adults) alike that there is much more to a person (or a cat) than their appearance. :)

This engaging story follows Fiona (AKA Queen Fiona) who is not so happy about the compliments her owners give her.. Specifically, she would like to be seen as more than cute. Fiona has a unique POV that will draw children into the story and make them laugh as they follow her antics and though process upon receiving different compliments.

A sweet, colorful look into the mind of a housecat. It really did tug at my cat-mom heartstrings and reminded me of my own little feline. I thought some of the text could have been smoother, I noticed some missed opportunity for a good rhyme to keep the pace. With that being said I think it still highlighted a topic that's important and often looked over...adults giving clique, overly used praise to children. Was Fiona adorable, lovely, etc? Absolutely. And when it comes to children, we often jump to use these types of descriptors too. But as adults we should take a moment to think of internal traits as well...is that child being brave? helpful? empathetic? We are all so much more than what is seen on the outside and I think that's what the story is trying to portray.
Not to mention that the illustrations are stunning with such soft shades of color. I'll be looking into more work done by the illustrator!
Thank you to 4U2B Books & Media for access to this book.

Reading challenge category – 2025 Flourish and Blotts: Curse Breaker – Goblins: Non-human main character

Why do her humans keep complimenting on her looks and not seeing all of the other FABULOUS parts of her?! Because she's adorable. A cute and fluffy book about noticing actions and not just appearances. With some haughtiness :)

FIONA AND THE PECULIAR PRAISE by Rennie Dyball is a contemporary, children's book focusing on a white cat names Fiona, and the 'praise' she doesn't like.

Fiona is a white cat who struggles with the 'praise' directed at her including cute, gorgeous, pretty etc. Fiona is a cat-she hunts, she plays, she prowls, and Fiona wants to be commended on her abilities not her 'looks' but eventually, the the family realizes Fiona is more than a pretty face, she are also smart.

FIONA AND THE PECULIAR PRAISE is a fast paced, quick read with an underlying message for younger children about self-esteem. Fiona doesn't want to be liked for her looks but for who she is and what she can do...although...the story starts with the cat calling itself a 'Queen' and wearing a tiara, so there is a bit of a mixed message .

With colorful images and easy text, FIONA AND THE PECULIAR PRAISE is a fun read with a hidden meaning.

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1816501484

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7691851151

My 10 year old daughter and I loved this book, Fiona and the Peculiar Praise. We love cats and love books about cats! :)
Such a great message that there are more to people (and cats) than their appearance.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy.

Fiona and the Peculiar Praise is a “purrfect” little book with a message about being more than just your looks. Fiona is an adorable kitty, but she’s also so much more! I love how expressive Fiona is and how accurate her cat behaviors and attitude are! With dynamic artwork, simple wording, and a quick paced plot, this children’s book is a fun read for kids and adults alike.

Even as an adult, I loved this book. The illustrations are amazing! The message is such a good one for anyone. Our looks do not have anything to do with who or what we are as a person. I love Queen Fiona of Apartment 4C! Thank you to NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media for the free copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

Okay, so I absolutely loved this book! I've never related so much to a fictional character...or cat so much in my life. I am sure most of us have been in a situation like Fiona's. Where we have received praise that seems to be aimed at our physical attributes instead of the things that actually make us who we are.

I think this book has a good message and one that we often overlook. It's wonderful to be beautiful, but what makes us who we are is more than skin deep. Our intelligence, our kindness, our helpfulness and so much more those are the things that are truly worth being praised for.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

As a mom with a daughter who's absolutely obsessed with cats, Fiona and the Peculiar Praise was a total hit in our house! First off, the illustrations are just gorgeous – seriously, so soft and expressive, they really bring Fiona to life. But what I loved even more is Fiona herself. This isn't just another "cute kitty" story. Our clever queen of Apartment 4C is tired of just being called pretty. She wants recognition for being smart and brave and helpful! And honestly, who can't relate to that? It's a really sweet and funny reminder that what's inside, and what we do, is way more important than just how we look. My daughter (and I!) were rooting for Fiona the whole way. Definitely recommend this one for any little cat lovers who know they're more than just cute!

A very clever and dare I say "cute" children's book that reminds us to not only think about ways we are special beyond our looks but to also remember to let others know you see them for more than what is on the outside. Sure someone maybe be cute but I bet they are also smart, swift, or strong as well. If you don't know then maybe it's time to take a closer look.
I love how this book set up and went about teaching a very important lesson. It was just shown as do this or that but taught using first person thoughts about how others are seeing the main character, Fiona. It's so very clever and very effective. The artwork is so beautiful that it draws the potential reader to the story, it's the surprisingly modern, needed in the world message that will keep this book on their minds for years to come. I hope we get to see more Fiona and her endeavors!!
First book by this author but I'm hoping it won't be the last.
I jumped at the chance to review a free copy from NetGalley!

Thank you to NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media for providing me with an early copy of the book.

The book's cover and synopsis caught my attention when I first requested it. The story itself is enjoyable. It follows a house cat named Fiona (Queen Fiona) and her daily routine at home. The illustrations are cute and cozy, keeping me engaged, and I know they will captivate young readers as well.

Now, I felt the message the story was trying to convey was nice but not executed properly. Fiona wants her human family to see her as more than just beautiful. I felt the story needed more development in the middle to enhance Fiona's character and help us understand why she wanted her family to see her as a smart cat, too.

Overall, it is a cute story, and I wouldn't mind more stories in this world. I know the kids will like it.

Queen Fiona of Apartment C is pretty. Everyone around talks about her looks. She is not happy about that. Finally, her sister Lou says that Fiona is smart! That makes her happy.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This is my own opinion about this illustrated children's book. It is a quick read that should keep a child's attention. The author, Rennie Dyball uses the story to concentrate on intelligence over pretty looks, etc. I laughed out loud at one section. The illustrations by Maine Diaz are delightful and brightly colored. It's a nice book for young children.

This was lovely story I admittedly picked up because I have a dog named Fiona (who is both beautiful and smart). My kids are grown, but it is definitely something I would purchase for a gift. I loved the story and especially the message about being recognized for your inner strengths, rather than just your looks.

I *loved* this. The illustrations were great, very vibrant and colorful, and the text was dynamic, which is always great for a read-aloud. It's also a great reminder to consider the kind of language we use, even when well intentioned, and to work towards empowering our kiddos--especially girls--to focus more on their abilities and attitude than their physical appearance. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read

So cute and absolutely heartwarming! The illustrations are beautiful and really bring the story to life. I loved Fiona and seeing her family from her perspective! It was really sweet, funny, and has a lovely message for young readers about how who you are matters more than how you look. Highly recommend!

In a Nutshell: A cute picture book about being seen for more than your looks. Great thought and message, but the execution could have been smoother. Still, I appreciate the point it makes. The illustrations are wonderful.

Plot Preview:
Fiona, short for ‘Queen Fiona of Apartment 4C’, is a white Persian cat, and as amazing as all cats are. She stays with her human parents and sister Lou, and does her best to show them varied aspects of her personality. However, they notice only her looks. Why can’t they see beyond Fiona’s beauty?

The cutie on the cover was a big factor in my getting this picture book. The title also played a role in stirring my curiosity. “Peculiar Praise” – great alliteration, but what could it mean? The story covers this aspect well.
The lesson the book aims to impart is a necessary one. Today’s society is big on physical appeal. So much so that a majority of those who post personal photographs on social media use filters. Even in real life, the first point of judgement is almost always based on how someone looks. Women resort to artificial measures to keep looking younger than their years, even if the result makes them look like plastic Barbie dolls. As such, the book offers a good reminder that looks are just superficial and behaviour counts more. Every article on effective parenting states that one should praise/criticise not the child but the behaviour. This is just an extension of the same thought: focus not on looks but on behaviour.
While the intent is good, the execution could have worked better for me. We see the humans only through Fiona’s eyes, so they are distanced from us. Lou doesn’t get any chance to speak, except at the end when she suddenly changes everyone’s opinions – a bit abrupt. Further, the whole story takes place on a single day, which doesn’t explain why the “trouble started this morning.” Fiona’s reactions would have made better sense if the plot indicated how she is always judged by looks instead of restricting it to one day in her life.
Moreover, despite what the title suggests, the humans in Fiona’s life aren’t really “praising” her in the true sense of the word in most of the scenes. Fiona seems bugged by how the humans address her (‘lovely’, ‘gorgeous’, ‘pretty’), which is not the same thing as praise. The only scene where Fiona’s stand on ‘praise’ is valid is where she plays with the cat toy and her family sees just her cuteness and nothing else. The reasons for Fiona’s irritation could thus have been handled better in order to justify the title.
Finally, the corrective behaviour suggested by the book is needed more by adults than children. Most kids don’t judge based on looks or skin colour. They imbibe these negative habits from the adults in their lives. As such, I can only hope that the moral of this picture book gets out to at least those adults co-reading the book with their little ones. For kids, this might just end up as a cute kitty story.
The story is written in Fiona’s first-person perspective, so her reactions to the human comments come out well. I love how she indulges in typical cat activities with one intention, but her human family always mistakes it for something else. (The toilet-paper antic was left unexplained though.) There are many funny moments in the story, thanks to Fiona’s thoughts as well as actions. (Fiona is such a purrfect feline name, right?😍)
The illustrations are really cute, with the soft pastels suiting the vibe. (A shoutout to the cute cat-face table mat!) As Fiona’s fur is snow-white, the sketches use shadows and shading well in making her look even floofier. Her expressions are also amazing! The human parents appear too young and the mother seems overdressed for an ordinary day at home, but after reading such a book, it would be ironic if I judge them for their appearance, right? 🤭
Overall, this was a decent picture book with an important message, but the illustrations outshine the content, which needs a bit of finetuning. I still appreciate the intention.
Recommended to little readers, whether cat lovers or not. The text makes this a suitable option for ages 3-7, though the message is probably more relevant to parents and would work better with discussion.
3 stars.
My thanks to 4U2B Books & Media for providing the DRC of “Fiona and the Peculiar Praise” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I love this! What an apt reminder to be conscious of the words we are using to describe the children in our lives. Beautiful, lovely, pretty, cute, and gorgeous are sweet descriptor words but that shouldn’t be only reserved for our daughters and it shouldn’t be the only words we are using for them.

I really enjoyed that learning this lesson was done using a cat! It was the perfect avenue for this particular problem to take emotions off the table and to look at this from a new perspective. Additionally it’s silly enough for the kids to remain engaged!

Great book and lovely illustrations!

What a fun and cute read! Would be great for a story time or learning that you are more than what you look like.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.