Oliver Kitten's Diary: The journals of a mischievous cat’s first year

by Gareth St. John Thomas

A truly innovative book for cat and kitten lovers ― Oliver’s naughty and precocious perceptions of humans will delight, surprise and perhaps even shock you. Oliver Kitten was born in a firetruck and ends up living with a three-generation multigenerational human family in a four-bedroom house. He keeps a diary of his own escapades and the things he hears and sees his family get up to. At once cute and funny, Oliver is a little naughty and sometimes downright wicked in his precocious observations of the things the humans in his house get up to. Oliver’s family includes a Scottish grandmother (whose knitting wool has adventures of its own), Clint, a sometime unpredictable two-year-old boy, the father Richard, his wife Nicole, and Lucy, their 13-year-old daughter. Lucy thinks she is Oliver Kitten’s owner and spends her life between the fridge and her bedroom, generally with Oliver in one hand and her phone in the other. Oliver is a diligent kitten and keeps a daily diary covering everything in his life including paper shredding, leaping, purring, meowing, kneading, scratching, grooming hiding, escaping, finding sleeping places and giving licks and kisses. Elegantly produced with black and white line drawings, Oliver Kitten’s Diary shows us a kitten evolving into a powerful and smart adult cat with lots of fun, affection, love and adventures.

192 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2023

Reviews

[whatbooknext · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oliver kitten began life in a fire engine, living with his mum and many siblings. It's not until he's rescued then adopted by a family of six humans that his real adventures begin.

The father of the family named Richard is very respectful of Oliver's space at first meeting, so Oliver knows he's in good hands. Richard's wife Sophia is going to take more time to crack however and their three children are all  challenges for this kitten.

Lucy is thirteen and spends most of her time in her room, on her phone, or with her headphones on and Oliver spends lots of his time sleeping in her bed.

Clint is a toddler, so Oliver learns to stay out of his way and Bubs needs much more looking after. Oliver does his very best. Then there is Nan who seems to know the way of cats and their needs. Oliver really likes Nan.

Oliver shares his life for the first year, day by day. He has many adventures inside his home and in his hunting ground (back yard). His antics and friendly purrsonality make him many friends both two legged and four legged. But his mischievous also causes chaos in a heartbeat - inside and outside.

A goldfish bowl, a goldfish pond, police cars and tow trucks are all in the brew of trouble that Oliver stirs, then he enjoys sitting back and watching what happens next.


This journal not only tells the story of a kitten growing into a cat, but also the ups and downs of his human family.

I spent time smiling with Oliver as I read, then chuckling, then laughing out loud as Oliver wreaked his revenge or distaste on humans he didn't like, or those who had wronged the humans he loves.

Cat lovers will enjoy getting to know Oliver and give an insight into owning a new kitten if they haven't had the privilege before.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

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Oliver Kitten's diary is the story of a year in his life told through diary entries. It details the things he gets up to and experiences.

The entries vary in length and content. My children liked this as it made it easy to start and stop in between doing other things. It is rather long and I'm not convinced it needed to be so lengthy. Some entries are a bit dry.

Overall an okay story that will appeal to children who love cats. My daughter was definitely more invested in reading it. She liked the diary format but it was a book she could put down and go off and read something else - she wasn't compelled to read it right through in a short time frame.

Good for competent readers aged 8+

[David Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute novel/diary, but not much of a story I'm afraid. I expected a big ending... but it just didn't happen.
Still... very cute.

[KelciD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super adorable slice-of-life read :)

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute for what it is. Disclaimer: we are on our tenth cat, so I can relate!