ACHUKA Book of the Day 15 Sep 2026
Publisher: Little Tiger
ISBN: 9781801048613
“Powell-Tuck goes all in with her spoof of old-time horror tropes, although kids needn’t know who Boris Karloff is to be tickled. For the book’s every scare (a severed foot and hand, their bones visible), there’s a wink (in a bit of metafictive fun, the skull urges readers to opt for a story about “unicorns, beasts, or bears”). Grey, a glutton for detail, leans on menacing reds and sickly greens to capture the frights, which include, in a line for the spooky-story ages, “walls as gray as old underpants.” … A top-grade creepy/funny addition to the spooky-picture-book canon. ” KIRKUS
“Antic artwork fizzes with ghoulish glee across busy, castle-set scenes featuring splashes of electric green and orange. As skittering disembodied appendages and a cerebrum in a jar pull back a tasseled curtain on the story, the narrative voice howls with fun, skipping through horror movie tropes (“IT’S ALIVE!”) and addressing the reader (“You want to turn the page? Be warned!”). An ambiguous finale gets the last laugh in this entertaining readaloud.” PublishersWeekly
From Little Tiger’s acquisition announcement:
Mini Grey said:
As a child, I was a massive fan of all things cheesy-horror, from The Munsters to Carry On Screaming to Young Frankenstein – I loved them all. So when I had a chance to help make a funny horror-zone picture book, I had to take it!
Maudie Powell-Tuck said:
Frankenkitty is a love letter to Gothic parody – camp, silly, mischievous and just a little bit scary. It’s been an utterly magical experience to pair up with the incredible Mini Grey, and the fabulous Little Tiger Team, to work on this book together.
Here is a tale to chill the blood and thrill the soul – a tale of spooky paws and eerie claws…The tale of Frankenkitty!
Born of stitches and lightning, Frankenkitty wanders the halls of the darketty dark castle. Everyone trembles at the sight of him. But is he really such a foul and loathsome creature? And can anyone save him before it’s too late?
Packed with deliciously dramatic narration from bestselling author Maudie Powell-Tuck and freakishly fun illustrations from Kate Greenaway Medal-winner Mini Grey, this spine-tingling tale serves as a mischievous reminder that looks can be very, very misleading.
Follow Maudie Powell-Tuck on
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Follow Mini Grey there too:
“With Frankenkitty I got the chance to fulfil my illustration dream of making picture book pics that were a homage to all the cheesy horror films I loved when I was a kid (and older.) Scroll to see some of my faves…”
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Absolutely love “Frankenkitty” by @mpowelltuck and @Bonzetta1. It is gloriously odd, wonderfully funny, and packed with heart. A tale of invention, friendship and one very unusual feline. Proof that the best picture books are just a little bit bonkers. #PicturebookPage pic.twitter.com/ZGgs82lWCJ
— Simon Smith (@smithsmm) September 13, 2026
We love this brand new book from @mpowelltuck and @Bonzetta1. Frankenkitty has some lovely nods to Mary Shelley. Great detail in the illustrations from Mini Grey and gorgeously gruesome end papers. pic.twitter.com/SMkLq5SGb0
— Phil Tite (@PhilTite1) September 5, 2026
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