Fiona is a cat who lives with her family in apartment 4C. She’s smart and hardworking, but everyone only notices her beauty, not her talents.
This is a very sweet story that teaches children that beauty isn’t the most important thing—what truly matters is the kind of person you are!
There were also lots of funny moments. I also liked that the cat actually let the mice go after catching them.
The illustrations are incredible—they complement the story perfectly!

Thank you to NetGalley and 4U2B Books & Media for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a cute and silly children's book with a great message about how you are more than just how cute and beautiful you are. I appreciate that the message isnt heavy handed and its more naturally intertwined within the story. I do love an in your face message as well, don't get me wrong, but sometimes it's more fun for little ones when the message comes hand in hand with a cute story about a silly kitten yah know?

The artwork is another great one with a pretty color scheme. I, for sure, give this book bonus points for using bigger words that will encourage a larger vocabulary as well. I appreciate it being a children's book geared for toddlers, that also treats them like they are capable of understanding more than overly simplified speach. Overall both the toddler and I liked this one, and I can see it being read again ❤️

Fiona is five stars and kid approved. if you have kitten lover kiddos, Fiona is sure to be a hit. truthfully, I hope they make Fiona into a series. we will be adding them all to our carts, especially as my kitten lovers learn to read.

the book has a very sweet message. we are more than our bodies. we are more than our looks. we are funny, strong, and smart (although my daughter declared that 'fiona is not as smart as me.'). and those illustrations are truly to die for - absolutely stunning!

I will be perfectly honest, I only snagged this book because the cat of the cover looked like my childhood cat that my mom got when I was 2 and lived until I was 21. My two-year-old self named him fluffy, and as we grew up together, his favorite place to sleep was on my head in the middle of the night or on my computer in the afternoon every time I tried to do homework.

So imagine my surprise/joy/bittersweet sentiments when Fiona did the exact same things in this story? 🥹

Anyways. On to the actual point.

This was a really fun read. The art is wonderful! And I like the lesson it teaches. It can be burdensome when the only complements you receive are on your looks and not on the things you have accomplished. This was written in a way easy for kids to understand. Of course it's nice to compliment someone's looks if you really mean it, but it also feels nice to acknowledge when something has done something to help you. I imagine this story would be a hit in library/classroom reading times. It's fun, beautiful, and great for starting a nice discussion!

While I like the message and feel it's an important one to impart on the youth, it felt forced to the point of pandering. Fiona's frustration with being labelled as 'pretty' starts immediately, whereas it should've built up as more and more people ignored her skills. More focus on her skills and less on her frustration would've been a nice 'show don't tell' route.

Fiona is a typical cat in so many ways. She is always in the way, and demands attention. She doesn't, however, want to be thought of as "cute". Read this very sweet book to find out what cats really want from their humans! Thank you to Netgalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Adorable short story to children about a cat, who's up to mischief. I'm not a cat person, but I definitely like Fiona a lot. The illustrations are gorgeous, and it has a sweet message about beauty not being everything. I definitely would read this to a child I don't have.

This book is a cute reminder for kids that looks are not a character trait.
Unfortunately the cat was so cute I couldn't take her seriously.
Thank you for the digital review copy.

I am a SUCKER for cats so of course I wanted to read this one right away! First and foremost, it was so FUNNY. I adored the humor and it was incredibly cat-like if I do say so myself. Also the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous! But lastly, and most importantly, I loved the message! And I love that it was the little girl who delivered it: there is far more to a person than appearance and compliments based on appearance are nowhere near as meaningful as those based on things that matter: such as Fiona's intelligence! I think that's definitely a message little readers everywhere need and I'm so excited to see a book like this available!

Fiona is a beautiful kitty...and so much more!! This is a great story for young girls who tire of hearing "Aren't you the cutest?" or "You're so adorable". And would rather hear "You're so smart!" or "She's the strongest person I know!". This is a unique message for a picture book. The illustrations in the book are light, bright and absolutely stunning. I think this book will be a crowd pleaser.

Title: Love the title! It's fun and playful just like Fiona – and a bit of foreshadowing!

Story: I LOVE this story for children! Fiona is a sassy, silly, determined, smart, individualistic and spunky cat. She's got a soft, fluffy, frilly, girly and princess like appearance and aesthetic, but it doesn't define her! However, those around her use language that makes her feel undermined, under appreciated and unseen. She is frustrated that all her actions – which she see's as strong, fast and empowering, are given soft, delicate and appearance based feedback, reaction and praise.

Her perception of herself vs. that of others confuses and frustrates her.

I think the story does a phenomenal job at touching on 2 major lessons:

1. We are more than our appearance, especially girls. While we may be cute, pretty, delicate or soft – that doesn't mean we can't also be fast, strong, determined and innovative. Appearance doesn't define us, and we shouldn't accept others diminishing our contributions to how we look. It also breaks the sterotype that people are either attractive and "dumb" or "ugly" but really smart.

2. When we feel frustrated or misunderstood, and we don't know how to express ourselves, or like we aren't being heard when we do try to express it. I think many children relate to this, as they are learning themselves, their emotional regulation and how to express it.

I also love that the littler girl is the one to point out how smart Fiona is to the adults and help them to change their perspective and view Fiona in a way that she feels appreciated and seen.

Writing: The writing is so cute! It definitely gives personality and character to Fiona! It's also dynamic and helps portray the words being said and the emotion behind them in the way that they're being treated typographically, and it's really fun! I love the language used and the rhythm of the story as it unfolds. It's written well for the audience it's for.

Illustrations: The illustrations are as phenomenal as the story. They're rich, engaging, expressive and very emotive. I love the little bubbles that build on the story (like the mouse receiving the escape route). It's fantastic.

Overall: This is so well written and so well illustrated. The message is clear, it unfolds logically and is easy to understand for a child. I would highly recommend this to anyone with young children, or an elementary school teacher.

Thank you NetGallery for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The book is a nice reminder that we are all more than how we appear on the outside. Sure, there is nothing wrong with being handsome, pretty, or cute, but imagine if that was all anyone ever noticed about you and not the work you put in. This is told from the point of view of a cat which adds humor to an important reminder.

A very cute little book about a cat named Fiona, who wants her people to know that she isn’t just pretty, she is a clever cat too. I loved how the little girl in this book was the one who told her parents that she loves that Fiona is a very intelligent cat. This pleased Fiona immensely. Cats are not just beautiful to look at, they are also quite clever!
Great book for cat lovers of all ages!

Mother of two girls, and cat owner. I love the message this is sending to children. My kids would love this book, and I love the message it sends. Additionally, it would make a great read aloud.

I really enjoyed how this book used a cat to illustrate how nicknames, especially when they relate to physical features rather than more substantial qualities, can be harmful. I think this message will resonate with many children, especially young girls who are constantly told that their physical appearance matters more than their intelligence. This is the type of book I definitely want to have included in my children’s library.

FIONA AND THE PERCULIAR PRAISE really hit me unexpectedly. I went into the story expecting to read about a prissy little kitty, but I came out of it thinking about how I talk to my own daughter.

Fiona is a sweet- no brave!- cat who is always called sweet little things when she actually wants to be recognized for her bravery, strength, and wisdom.

The artwork is very delicate and whimsical- it really feels inspired by Fiona's fluffy white fur.

The story is very fun, especially helping young readers learn about new adjectives. It's written in an easy language that young readers can pick up and read quickly.

I really enjoyed this, especially when I think about my own daughter and the praise that I give her. This book feels like it's aimed towards little girls (my five year old daughter certainly enjoyed it!) and the words we commonly use to describe girls- pretty, sweet, adorable. It was really fun to see how Fiona also enjoyed words such as brave, strong, and smart.

Gorgeous artwork, not a very engaging story. As a librarian, former publisher and bookseller, I wouldn't recommend.

I LOVED this book! It was super cute and the concept is something I always think about and try to enact when I speak to my children. We frequently compliment kids on every looks but never their wit! It's not all about looks. It’s about brains too! This is a cute little book that will definitely be going in my kids collection when it comes out in a physical copy!

What is sweeter than Queen Fiona protecting her family and taking care or her community?! It is such a heartwarming story of how we see ourselves and others beyond their looks. What is truly valued about each of us and what makes us special. The illustrations are phenomenal and the colors are gorgeous. What a sweet, fun story to read for cat loves and families alike.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC and the opportunity to review and to the Rennie Dyball for such a sweet story.

A very sweet children's book about a little cat named Fiona. I really loved the illustrations, and my child was also delighted. I definitely recommend it!