Toto the Ninja Cat and the Mystery Jewel Thief
Toto, the ninja cat, is back for her fourth adventure with her gang of funny, furry friends. What starts as a simple security job, looking after the French cat ambassador, ends with Toto and gang being framed for theft. The stolen item? A sacred diamond cat collar that enables the wearer to control rats. Will Toto be able to find the real culprit, clear their names and prevent a ratastrophe?
Moving at a brisk pace, the story is a fun, easy read that will appeal to young readers. The book is populated with a cast of quirky animal characters and some of the scenarios are quite inventive. O’Leary uses his knowledge of London to great effect, and children will recognise the different city locations and names. However, it feels like the book could be funnier and some of the jokes fall flat.
As well as all the crazy adventures, there is also some heart in this tale. Although Toto cannot see very well, this never holds her back, which is a lovely message for readers. There is also a great emphasis on the importance of friendship throughout the story.
One of the highlights are the wonderful, funny illustrations by Nick East. Using black, white and grey, he has really brought the characters to life, and offered his own unique spin on cats, rats and other furry creatures.
