Catnapped

by Teena Raffa-Mulligan, Daniel Weatheritt (Illustrator)

When Jenna’s Nana wins the lotto, not everyone agrees with how she plans on spending the money. Jenna’s thrilled that her favorite grandmother wants to take her to Disneyland, but when a couple of sleazy crooks read that Nana wants to use her millions to build a special home for cats, they develop a plan to hold Nana's cats for ransom. CATNAPPED is a beginning chapter book for animal lovers.

Genres: Childrens

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2014

About the author

Teena is a reader, writer and daydream believer. She writes across genres for children and adults and her publications include picture books, chapter books, novels, romance, short stories and poems. Her writing life has also included a long career as a journalist and editor.

Reviews

[Sharron Bardsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story and lesson within. Crime does not pay happy to see the cat was not hurt .

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catnapped was free on Kindle a while back and I finally got around to reading it. It's a cute, quick read that will bring to mind a bit of "Home Alone" and the "Secret Life of Pets" movie. When animal-loving Granny wins the lottery, she decides to use it to help homeless pets. Two bugling thieves hear about this and set about to kidnap a cat for ransom. Hilarity ensues as the animals in the home that is a bit more like a zoo fight back and defend their own.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I recall from several years ago it was just ok...a free Kindle book.

[Sienna Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but abrupt ending

I enjoyed reading this with my daughter. We enjoyed the main characters and animals. However, it was a rather abrupt ending.

[Barbara Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming early chapter mystery book of less than fifty pages that is perfect for the beginning reader. Jenna bemoans the fact that her Nanna has moved from a bustling Australian city to a quiet house on Wattle Drive. Well, actually not that quiet, Nanna has adopted several pets: Oscar a large orange cat, Goliath, a large Great Dane, Cleo, a black and white cat, Albert, a python snake, and Polly, a chatterbox parrot, who enjoys watching police shows. One night while watching TV, Nanna screams with joy when she finds out that she has just won the lottery. Nanna quickly decides that after setting some money aside for Jenna’s education and a trip to Disneyland; she will use the rest to take her friend Alice to the Sydney Opera House, but give the bulk of the money to build a special home for cats that nobody wants.

Cass Snatchit and her lazy teenage brother Jack read of Nanna’s good fortune in the newspaper. They live in a run-down trailer and quickly decide that they will kidnap Nanna’s cat and demand a large sum of money for ransom. The author details their plans to spy on her and break into her house. Will they succeed in their plan to swindle Nanna and foil her generous plan for the lotto winnings?

The six chapters are short and the text is easy to read and conversational. Characters are fun, and the black and white pencil illustrations are charming. I do think the illustrations might have been more effective if they were larger and in color. This book has lots of elements a child age six to nine will enjoy: animals, the good guys and the bad guys, and a touch of humor. Recommended as an independent reader or read aloud at home, in the classroom or for siblings to share with one another.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because I love animals and am always looking for an interesting animal adventure, even if it is a children's/youth's story. The story seems to be centered around granny and her grand-daughter, but the heroes of the day are granny's collection of stray or unwanted animals. When granny wins the lottery, thieves plot to steal granny's cat, Oscar, and ransom him off for her winnings. It bothered me that the thieves were teenagers and that the little grand-daughter was unaware of the danger she was in while caring for the animals. Otherwise this story was okay.

[Rasheeda Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Children and I really do like Catnapped. But I do wish that there were more visuals in color for my younger child age of 1, none the less she enjoyed hearing us read aloud. Reading what people young or old would do for money it too crazy, Jack and Cass got more than they bargained for when entering Nanna's house. I'm a Cat Lady myself so it made it easy and enjoyable to read.

[RJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick book to read to children. Upper elementary kids could read this on their own. The illustrations are simple but help the reader visual the story as there are not that many details.
The setting is in Australia with a grandmother that keeps adopting pets. Her granddaughter thinks grandma's street is too quiet.
As the story unfolds it is exciting. I wanted that part to be developed more.

[Keith Dickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a perfectly cute book for a 5 year old. My 8 year old was disappointed because the story wasn't more elaborate. Yeah, my 8 year old uses words like elaborate. I asked him what his review was and he said 3 stars. So there you go.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story of a kindhearted animal loving lady and her granddaughter.
A tiny tale for the young and young at heart.

[suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it


We welcome all readers to enjoy this book I like this book so much thank you for reading enjoy it.

[Judy Breckenridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

catapulted-good read for kids

Great book to read to early grades. They will love it. Not too long-it will hold their interest. Cute story about animals.

[Lina Shupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Head line

I choose this ratting because it was pretty interesting and when the kids tried to catnapped the cat. I also liked the ending.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, cute read

Super fast to read and a fun little story. May be better for younger kids, as it is quite short.

[Aubrey Norder · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok.

I liked it but somebody needed to find out about the robbing. It would have been much more exciting if they did, but for the most part it was good.

[Sandi Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great fast-paced early chapter book. Puurrrfect to read alone or to read aloud.