STRETCHY AND BEANIE

Will the friendship of Stretchy McHandsome and Beanie McBright survive Beanie’s bossiness?

In this sequel to Stretchy McHandsome (2019), every McBright sibling has adopted one of the McHandsome cats. Beanie’s relationship with Stretchy, though, is special. Each of these two gingers has one green eye and one blue—but there’s more! They’re ferocious together, they stretch and scratch and curl up together. Beanie decides to make Stretchy into a perfect pet. Stretchy, however, is uninterested in learning math or dance, he hates the harness, and he’s infuriated by the stroller. The lightheartedness of the art, full of clever details for astute readers to discover, puts a comforting spin on a more serious tale. Stretchy, frightened by Beanie’s aggressive affection and enthusiasm, expresses anxiety like any real-life cat. “He acted out, he climbed the drapes, / and made the carpet wet.” Art and verse alternate between playful silliness and showing the sincere worry of a little girl learning to be gentle with her pet. The nine McBrights are illustrated as a racially diverse family with a range of skin tones and features, and one child uses a wheelchair. Beanie herself present White. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Delightful reminder that having a pet differs from parenting “a troop of teddy bears.”