The Whiskers Sisters 1

French comics creator Miss Paty introduces a trio of very different siblings in this jaunty first entry in the Whiskers Sisters series. The three receive a letter as they wait for their grandfather, the Guardian of the Forest, to return from a long trip. The two older children--Maya, a girl with pink hair and antlers, and Mia, a black cat who is clearly the sister in charge--excitedly read the letter, neglecting to share its contents with (human) toddler May, who can't read yet. Maya and Mia immediately begin planning a party (like May, readers don't immediately learn what the letter says), and May climbs inside Mrs. Owl's mailbag. As they soar over the forest, the bag snaps, dropping May and 348 fluttering letters into the woods; May joins forces with various animals, who understand her babbling perfectly, to locate the letters. There's a surreal edge to the illustrations (all three siblings have hauntingly large eyes) that fits the unusual nature of their world, and the story's cartoony innocence and happy ending make this a fine, quirky starter comic for readers moving out of picture books.--Publishers Weekly

The Whiskers sisters--antlered Maya, feline Mia, and baby May, who can't talk just yet--are granddaughters of the Guardian of the Forest. When Maya and Mia decide to throw a party, they are determined that everything will be perfect, but in their excitement, they don't realize that May has disappeared. Luckily, the animals of the forest are eager to help out. Miss Paty's sweet tale is a sure-to-please mix of all things girly: cute animals, pretty dresses, and gently bickering sisters. Though Maya and Mia get caught up in their own worlds, it's clear that they love each other and their sister. For her part, May's frustrations at not being understood by her family are played for laughs, especially when it's clear that her animal friends get her drift. Everything is drawn with thin but detailed lines and colored in warm, soft hues, such as Maya's pink hair and the warm teal of the summer sky. Give this to readers who want a tale with a heart.--Booklist