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The Aristokittens #1
Welcome to the Creature Café
One day while exploring the streets of Paris, kittens Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz stumble upon something very mysterious--a hidden, abandoned restaurant! They soon discover that this place was once a secret cafe where all the animals of Paris used to gather, but has since shut down.
Then the kittens have a brilliant idea: why not re-open the place and make it their own? But with three kittens who couldn’t be more different, there’s sure to be disagreement over what makes a perfect cafe, and all sorts of other hijinks… including new animal friends and secrets about the cafe's past that could change everything. Can the kittens band together to keep the opening from being a catastrophe?
Filled with mystery, fun, and friendship, each book in the Aristokittens series will expand the world of Disney's The Aristocats through the eyes of its iconic kitten trio--and is the perfect recipe for fun!
Then the kittens have a brilliant idea: why not re-open the place and make it their own? But with three kittens who couldn’t be more different, there’s sure to be disagreement over what makes a perfect cafe, and all sorts of other hijinks… including new animal friends and secrets about the cafe's past that could change everything. Can the kittens band together to keep the opening from being a catastrophe?
Filled with mystery, fun, and friendship, each book in the Aristokittens series will expand the world of Disney's The Aristocats through the eyes of its iconic kitten trio--and is the perfect recipe for fun!
122 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2022
7 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Castle
41 books413 followersJennifer Castle received her B.A. in Creative Writing at Brown University and worked as a celebrity publicist’s assistant, an advertising copywriter, and a struggling screenwriter (yes, that’s an actual job) before falling into a niche producing websites for kids and teens. Her debut, THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, was a 2012 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection as well as a Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" book. YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE was a 2015 Florida Teens Read selection. Her most recent novel, WHAT HAPPENS NOW, was published in June 2016. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley with her husband and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 25, 2024
I've never seen the Aristocats or any of its franchise. So, I went into this book with a fresh eye. It's a cute little story about three kittens that go on an adventure to re-open a restaurant just for critters. Each kitten has their own talent that they lend to the venture. The overall "lesson" that this story teaches is that it's better to work together to achieve your goal. It honestly reminds me of the Saturday morning cartoons of yesteryear. They were always entertaining, but held a thinly, or not-so-thinly, veiled lesson. Welcome to the Creature Cafe is a very enjoyable read for young and old.
June 13, 2022
I thought this was such a cute story and a great book for those children who are just learning how to read. I love The Aristrocats growing up and wish this was around when I learned how to read.
June 29, 2024
hush, yes, I'm adding this to my Goodreads, it was cute!
The Aristocats was one of my favorite movies growing up, so when I saw this book I knew I had to see about reading it—for pure nostalgia reasons, of course. 😉
It was super cute and had a great emphasis on the three kittens’ relationship and teamwork. They might have fussed at each other/argued a handful of times, but they’re super quick to apologize and encourage their sibling that’s down. That truly made this book even better to me! The teamwork with your siblings aspect was lovely and could be great for human siblings too. 😉 Each kitten has their own talent and they recognize that about the other, especially that sometimes teamwork can be working separately with their talent towards a common goal—meaning that they didn’t do *everything* together 100% of the time for the cafe but still worked together and used their gifts. It was really neat to see that element as well. 💕
Some content notes for parents (some of these might not bother some parents, but just wanted to list it out for those who may not like these elements):
“Oh. Meow. Gosh.” Is said twice by Marie and “Bah!” Is exclaimed by another character seven times and “Good heavens!” once by another; Thomas O’Malley says “baby” once and is referred to as the kittens’ stepfather; The Kittens argue and have sibling bickering moments, but it’s all quickly wrapped up and they go back to being happy with the other soon; Toulouse comments about hating when Marie is right about something; There’s a time or two of eye rolling at a sibling’s silly comment.
The Kittens go to the Alley Cat Parlor when their mother said to go to the courtyard (when they hear her coming, they quickly hide but are caught and she makes them promise to not keep things from her anymore).
One adult cat says that his human realized that he didn’t want to move, so the human let the cat stay behind and since the cat always wanted to be an alley cat, it worked out; A mention of some alley cats playing cards (there’s an illustration of this and you can see coins/chips on the table).
The Aristocats was one of my favorite movies growing up, so when I saw this book I knew I had to see about reading it—for pure nostalgia reasons, of course. 😉
It was super cute and had a great emphasis on the three kittens’ relationship and teamwork. They might have fussed at each other/argued a handful of times, but they’re super quick to apologize and encourage their sibling that’s down. That truly made this book even better to me! The teamwork with your siblings aspect was lovely and could be great for human siblings too. 😉 Each kitten has their own talent and they recognize that about the other, especially that sometimes teamwork can be working separately with their talent towards a common goal—meaning that they didn’t do *everything* together 100% of the time for the cafe but still worked together and used their gifts. It was really neat to see that element as well. 💕
Some content notes for parents (some of these might not bother some parents, but just wanted to list it out for those who may not like these elements):
“Oh. Meow. Gosh.” Is said twice by Marie and “Bah!” Is exclaimed by another character seven times and “Good heavens!” once by another; Thomas O’Malley says “baby” once and is referred to as the kittens’ stepfather; The Kittens argue and have sibling bickering moments, but it’s all quickly wrapped up and they go back to being happy with the other soon; Toulouse comments about hating when Marie is right about something; There’s a time or two of eye rolling at a sibling’s silly comment.
The Kittens go to the Alley Cat Parlor when their mother said to go to the courtyard (when they hear her coming, they quickly hide but are caught and she makes them promise to not keep things from her anymore).
One adult cat says that his human realized that he didn’t want to move, so the human let the cat stay behind and since the cat always wanted to be an alley cat, it worked out; A mention of some alley cats playing cards (there’s an illustration of this and you can see coins/chips on the table).
April 4, 2022
This was a really cute continuation on the original Aristocats movie! The Aristocats is one of my favorite Disney movies and you don't see a lot of in store merch or anything, so I was really excited to see this short story.
This book takes place shortly after the kittens are rescued and Thomas O'Malley comes to live with them. Madame also takes in stray cats. The kittens are getting restless and want another adventure. They happen to stumble across an abandoned café where everything is animal sized! They meet Pierre who used to own the animal café, but it has been shut down because his business partner moved to America. Marie, Berlioz and Toulouse are determined to get the café back up and running for the animals of Paris!
It's so fun to see all of these old characters in a new setting. We also get to see Duchess and Thomas O'Malley as well as Roquefort the mouse. A lot of this book is about how to work as a team which is a great message for the children this book is geared toward.
This is a great book to read to a child as someone who loved the original movie to share a little bit of nostalgia and to try to get kids who only watch the newer movies into the classics (speaking from experience!).
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book takes place shortly after the kittens are rescued and Thomas O'Malley comes to live with them. Madame also takes in stray cats. The kittens are getting restless and want another adventure. They happen to stumble across an abandoned café where everything is animal sized! They meet Pierre who used to own the animal café, but it has been shut down because his business partner moved to America. Marie, Berlioz and Toulouse are determined to get the café back up and running for the animals of Paris!
It's so fun to see all of these old characters in a new setting. We also get to see Duchess and Thomas O'Malley as well as Roquefort the mouse. A lot of this book is about how to work as a team which is a great message for the children this book is geared toward.
This is a great book to read to a child as someone who loved the original movie to share a little bit of nostalgia and to try to get kids who only watch the newer movies into the classics (speaking from experience!).
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2022
First sentence: On a bright, warm morning in Paris, inside a grand mansion on a cobblestone street, three kittens sat looking up at a big wooden door. Their tails swished nervously back and forth.
Premise/plot: Welcome to the Creature Cafe is a sequel to Disney's The Aristocats. Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz star in this early [illustrated] chapter book for young readers. These three kittens are inspired to open, or re-open, the Creature Cafe. They stumble across an abandoned restaurant--the Creature Cafe--and learn its history. It is a restaurant for....you guessed it...animals. They want to re-open the restaurant (and rename it). But running a restaurant may not be as easy as they initially think....especially when you're a kitten.
My thoughts: I liked this one okay. BUT. I was disappointed primarily because I think my expectations were way too high. The Aristocats is one of my all-time favorite movies. Seriously. I love just about everything from the movie. (Almost everything. Not quite.) And so I wanted this sequel to be magical....or special. It didn't quite live up to the movie. But if you pick up the book with reasonable expectations or even low expectations, I think it could prove charming. And for the right readers, I think this could work.
Premise/plot: Welcome to the Creature Cafe is a sequel to Disney's The Aristocats. Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz star in this early [illustrated] chapter book for young readers. These three kittens are inspired to open, or re-open, the Creature Cafe. They stumble across an abandoned restaurant--the Creature Cafe--and learn its history. It is a restaurant for....you guessed it...animals. They want to re-open the restaurant (and rename it). But running a restaurant may not be as easy as they initially think....especially when you're a kitten.
My thoughts: I liked this one okay. BUT. I was disappointed primarily because I think my expectations were way too high. The Aristocats is one of my all-time favorite movies. Seriously. I love just about everything from the movie. (Almost everything. Not quite.) And so I wanted this sequel to be magical....or special. It didn't quite live up to the movie. But if you pick up the book with reasonable expectations or even low expectations, I think it could prove charming. And for the right readers, I think this could work.
August 25, 2025
If you love The Aristocats, you’ll really enjoy this new adventure with the Aristokittens! In this first book of the series, the three kittens—Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz—go exploring in Paris and stumble upon a hidden restaurant that used to be a secret café just for animals. How cool is that?
The kittens decide to bring the café back to life, but it’s not as easy as they thought. Marie wants things her way, Toulouse has his own ideas, and Berlioz doesn’t always agree either. The squabbles between them make things tricky, but it also shows how important it is to listen to each other and work as a team.
The story is full of fun, friendship, and teamwork, and the pictures by Sydney Hanson are super cute—they make the kittens and their world come alive. If you like stories about animals, siblings, and big adventures, this book is definitely worth reading. It’s a sweet way to spend time with some familiar characters and meet new furry friends, too!
The kittens decide to bring the café back to life, but it’s not as easy as they thought. Marie wants things her way, Toulouse has his own ideas, and Berlioz doesn’t always agree either. The squabbles between them make things tricky, but it also shows how important it is to listen to each other and work as a team.
The story is full of fun, friendship, and teamwork, and the pictures by Sydney Hanson are super cute—they make the kittens and their world come alive. If you like stories about animals, siblings, and big adventures, this book is definitely worth reading. It’s a sweet way to spend time with some familiar characters and meet new furry friends, too!
April 1, 2022
Thank you netgalley for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This story was exceptionally sweet with many cute motivational sayings that the kittens learned from their mother Duchess. I am including two below that stood out to me the most.
“Mama always tells us, ‘Good manners and kindness are always in fashion.’
apart,
“Mama always tells us, ‘Good manners and kindness are always in fashion.’
The age range set for this story is on point. This would be a lovely bedtime story for all children. It really did a wonderful job of showing the reader how coming together for one common goal is the best thing you can do. No matter what your talent is you can do anything as long as you work together as a team.
I look forward to reading more stories like this, that act in a sort of continuation from the movie
This story was exceptionally sweet with many cute motivational sayings that the kittens learned from their mother Duchess. I am including two below that stood out to me the most.
“Mama always tells us, ‘Good manners and kindness are always in fashion.’
apart,
“Mama always tells us, ‘Good manners and kindness are always in fashion.’
The age range set for this story is on point. This would be a lovely bedtime story for all children. It really did a wonderful job of showing the reader how coming together for one common goal is the best thing you can do. No matter what your talent is you can do anything as long as you work together as a team.
I look forward to reading more stories like this, that act in a sort of continuation from the movie
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2022
The Aristokittens is a very cute chapter book that follows the three kittens, Marie, Berlioz, and Toulouse, following the events of the Aristocats film. While in the park, the three kittens find an old abandoned cafe and decide that they can each use their three talents to fix the cafe and find their life's new calling. Marie is the pastry chef, Berlioz plays the ambience music, and Toulouse paints the murals. It's very cute and I am glad to see all three kittens because Marie usually gets the most attention. I think it's proof that more can be done with the Aristocats too and that it can be modernized and franchised for books and TV today. I would have liked this as a kid since I loved French and cats.
Thank you to netgalley and to Disney Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to netgalley and to Disney Press for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2022
This book was received as an ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide - Disney Press through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
In my opinion, The Aristocats is one of the most underrated Disney movies, due to its classic feature, and vintage layout, but Jennifer Castle broke the myths with the release of Welcome to the Creature Cafe. With Cat Cafes being the new and upcoming trend of the 21st century, why not modernize the classic Disney movie. The storyline was very cute, funny, clever, and impressive. This book is meant for readers ages 6-9, but anyone in my opinion that wants a new interpretation of Disney nostalgia to respark some old memories, this book is for you.
A brilliant modernization of a classic Disney movie reimagined. This book deserves 5 stars.
In my opinion, The Aristocats is one of the most underrated Disney movies, due to its classic feature, and vintage layout, but Jennifer Castle broke the myths with the release of Welcome to the Creature Cafe. With Cat Cafes being the new and upcoming trend of the 21st century, why not modernize the classic Disney movie. The storyline was very cute, funny, clever, and impressive. This book is meant for readers ages 6-9, but anyone in my opinion that wants a new interpretation of Disney nostalgia to respark some old memories, this book is for you.
A brilliant modernization of a classic Disney movie reimagined. This book deserves 5 stars.
October 8, 2021
I received an arc from NetGalley.
Welcome to the Creature Cafe features the kittens - Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz - from the Disney movie The Aristocats. While in the park with their parents and owner, they stumble upon an animal size cafe that's been abandoned. A bull dog, Pierre, is also inside and explains to them what it used to be. The kittens are very excited about the idea and decide to bring the cafe back.
This was a very cute story. I don't think too many kids today know who The Aristocats are (maybe I'm wrong with Disney+ having it to stream) but I think with it being cute kittens it should still appeal to those who love animal stories. The illustrations that are spread throughout are absolutely adorable. I want to watch The Aristocats now.
Welcome to the Creature Cafe features the kittens - Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz - from the Disney movie The Aristocats. While in the park with their parents and owner, they stumble upon an animal size cafe that's been abandoned. A bull dog, Pierre, is also inside and explains to them what it used to be. The kittens are very excited about the idea and decide to bring the cafe back.
This was a very cute story. I don't think too many kids today know who The Aristocats are (maybe I'm wrong with Disney+ having it to stream) but I think with it being cute kittens it should still appeal to those who love animal stories. The illustrations that are spread throughout are absolutely adorable. I want to watch The Aristocats now.
March 1, 2022
If you like the Aristocats you are going to love this short novel. It is perfect for the young budding reader on who possibly loves the characters, or just one who loves cats and animals. Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz find a mysterious abandoned café when exploring Paris. Can their dreams and talent help to bring back a beloved café? Or will their sibling rivalry stand in the way? Come join three kitties on an adventure of a life time.
Truly this is just such a sweet book. I love the simplicity and think that it is a great option for readers wanting to branch out into chapter books. It is well written and I am truly excited to add it to my reader advisory options.
Thank you so much to Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
Truly this is just such a sweet book. I love the simplicity and think that it is a great option for readers wanting to branch out into chapter books. It is well written and I am truly excited to add it to my reader advisory options.
Thank you so much to Disney and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.
March 1, 2022
The Aristocat kittens - Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz - are back! The adorable siblings stumble across an abandoned cafe that used to be open to all of the animals of Paris. Even though they each have a different idea of how the space could be used, they finally work together to create a location that showcases their own unique talents and interests.
This book is a fun adventure in which the kittens learn the important lessons of teamwork, cooperation, and friendship. I really enjoyed this new story involving some classic Disney characters. I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
This book is a fun adventure in which the kittens learn the important lessons of teamwork, cooperation, and friendship. I really enjoyed this new story involving some classic Disney characters. I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
March 22, 2022
The three kittens, Marie, Toulouse, and Berlioz, are back, this time discovering a secret, abandoned cafe for animals. After hearing of the cafe’s history, they determine to reopen the cafe along with the help of some friends, old and new.
The illustrations are nice and a bit modernized. However, if you’re looking for the same feel of the Aristocats film, you won’t find it through the illustrations or story. The dialogue and descriptions don’t quite capture the personality of the kittens in the film, and often the kittens speak more like adults rather than children. The story was still interesting though and includes themes such as friendship and problem-solving.
The illustrations are nice and a bit modernized. However, if you’re looking for the same feel of the Aristocats film, you won’t find it through the illustrations or story. The dialogue and descriptions don’t quite capture the personality of the kittens in the film, and often the kittens speak more like adults rather than children. The story was still interesting though and includes themes such as friendship and problem-solving.
April 2, 2022
NATGALLEY ARC
Cuuuuuuuuuuute! I would buy this for the art alone.
A sweet and simple read, complete with darling artwork peppered throughout. It takes place after the movie and further explores the relationship between the feline siblings through an endearing mission to come together and run a café. The book contains a decent message about kindness and is a nice set up for a series, introducing a few new characters that will warm one's heart.
Bonus points for Marie not being annoying (as I tend to find her, personally).
Cuuuuuuuuuuute! I would buy this for the art alone.
A sweet and simple read, complete with darling artwork peppered throughout. It takes place after the movie and further explores the relationship between the feline siblings through an endearing mission to come together and run a café. The book contains a decent message about kindness and is a nice set up for a series, introducing a few new characters that will warm one's heart.
Bonus points for Marie not being annoying (as I tend to find her, personally).
April 12, 2022
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story is based on a Disney classic of the three cats called Belize, Marie and Toulouse, my daughter previously had a read out loud book featuring these three cats, so she was delighted to read another one of their adventures. The story and the art work were both very cute.
This story is based on a Disney classic of the three cats called Belize, Marie and Toulouse, my daughter previously had a read out loud book featuring these three cats, so she was delighted to read another one of their adventures. The story and the art work were both very cute.
April 12, 2022
Really cute story featuring the cats and kittens from the Aristocats. I loved that movie and really enjoyed reading a new children's book featuring these furry felines. In this short chapter book the busy kittens decide to help a small dog who's in need. Super cute and also loved the illustrations.
April 19, 2022
The Aristocats is one of my favorite Disney movies. This book is a continuation of the movie and it didn’t disappoint! It was super cute and gave the same feels as the original movie did. It kept a steady pace throughout. The artwork was also extremely adorable! I really enjoyed it. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!
January 16, 2022
What a cute book after the kittens have returned home from their cat napping. Mademoiselle has taken in many other animals, but the three kittens are still up to their sibling rivalry and antics when they decide to reopen this Creature Cafe. Perfect book for early chapter readers.
July 20, 2022
This book was so cute and so much fun!! I’m a bit fan of the Aristocrats and enjoyed reading this mini sequel to my daughter (even though she’s too young to understand hah). Would definitely recommend this to Disney fans and kitten fans that are young and old!
December 24, 2023
Very cute. My 4 year old is a big fan of this one, but my 6 year old found it a little boring. If you’re a aristocats fan, this is a cute continuation of the story and full of kitten and animal adventures. The sibling dynamic is also nice to see.
January 11, 2022
This was such a cute tale involving my favorite kittens. I cannot wait to hear more about the Creature Cafe!
June 29, 2022
Such a cute series!! I love the kittens and such a great start to a kids series! It was nice to see some character development in kittens!!
August 1, 2022
Really cute story. My 7 year old son and 9 year old daughter also enjoyed it as we did a read aloud of it.
August 5, 2022
Super cute continuation of the Aristocats movie! A perfect pick for fans of the movie and for children learning how to read.
November 29, 2023
riding that nostalgia train & loving this cute tail.
June 5, 2024
My three youngest enjoyed listening to this story. Encourages working together.
June 6, 2025
Very fun and cute book! I love the illustrations!
December 29, 2022
Delightful start to a new licensed early readers series starring the classic kitten trio from The Aristocrats. Author Castle diligently crafts each chapter with a simple learning message baked within the kittens’ mini-adventures, not an easy feat when making it look light and fluffy. Illustrator Hanson creates sweet moments throughout with a timeless style. Well rounded entertainment transit from screen to page.
May 19, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my rating**
I will start by saying that I saw this cover and thought it was a graphic novel. I am a little disappointed that it isn't since that means less of Sydney Hanson's beautiful and super cute artwork. However, the story was also very cute and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The first in a series, this book picks up where the 1970 film leaves off. Duchess and Thomas are married. The kittens have returned home and they're bored. They learn the power of friendship and working together as they open up a cafe for other animals. The art and the story work well together and it's a quick read. I think the intended audience will really enjoy it, especially if they enjoyed the original story.
I would happily recommend it to a friend with K-2 child or a child at my job at the library. It was a sweet story with a good message and great art.
4/5 stars
I will start by saying that I saw this cover and thought it was a graphic novel. I am a little disappointed that it isn't since that means less of Sydney Hanson's beautiful and super cute artwork. However, the story was also very cute and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
The first in a series, this book picks up where the 1970 film leaves off. Duchess and Thomas are married. The kittens have returned home and they're bored. They learn the power of friendship and working together as they open up a cafe for other animals. The art and the story work well together and it's a quick read. I think the intended audience will really enjoy it, especially if they enjoyed the original story.
I would happily recommend it to a friend with K-2 child or a child at my job at the library. It was a sweet story with a good message and great art.
4/5 stars
January 12, 2022
This book was very nostalgic for me and I loved every second of reading. The idea of a creature cafe in the middle of Paris really made me get excited and learning about the history of the characters in that cafe was fun as well. I enjoyed learning that O'Malley the Alley Cat was their stepdad! That they used the term endearingly was a wonderful addition. Flashbacks to the movie the Aristocats happened throughout the book and really drew in the idea of this book being a continuation of that movie. I cannot wait to hear more about my favorite kittens and whatever trouble they get into next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews