Scamp
by Anden Wilder; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Little, Brown    40 pp.
2/25    9780316558266    $18.99

Clad in a striped-pink romper, tiny tot Scamp takes being a “cat person” to the next level as she spends her day with pet kitty Hector—crawling, prowling, and even grooming herself with her tongue. The two snuggle together and touch noses with contented grins on their faces. Things change one morning when Scamp discovers that she can stand on two legs and that she actually likes taking a bath; this causes an identity crisis for the toddler. Employing succinct, lively language, Wilder tells a satisfying story about friendship, change, and milestones. Crisp minimal illustrations, often bathed in warm light blues, capture both the humor and poignancy of connection between a child and pet. When Scamp startles Hector by becoming vertical for the first time, for example, their facial expressions and body language are very amusing. Soon the resourceful Scamp learns that her newfound ability to stand can help Hector in a crisis. Readers will cheer when Scamp saves the day and then laugh when Wilder slips in a funny final image of Hector standing on two legs to hug his faithful human friend.

From the March/April 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.