Little Bo in Italy: The Continued Adventures of Bonnie Boadicea »

Julie Andrews Edwards is one of the most recognized figures in the world of entertainment. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, and The Princess Diaries. Ms. Edwards is the author of many favorite children's books, including Mandy, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles, and the Little Bo series.

Little Bo's sailor friend, Billy, has signed on aboard Lord and Lady Goodlad's handsome yacht, Legend. Bo is delighted, for now she and Billy can see more of the world, and she can continue her quest to find news of her long-lost brothers and sisters. Bo is determined to make sure they have all found safe and happy homes—even if it takes a lifetime of travels.

In beautiful Italy, Little Bo sees wondrous sights, has adventures that test her strength and courage, and makes some surprising new discoveries. Throughout it all, she shows her valiant spirit and once again proves that even a tiny cat can make a big difference.

Publishers Weekly

Edwards's (The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles) sliver of a tale traces the adventures of a small gray cat named Boadicea, "Bo" for short. Wealthy Mrs. Edith Edge is mortified to discover that a black stray has fathered the six kittens born from her pedigree white cat ("Can you imagine what the ladies at the Cat Association would say if they knew about this," she says). Save for one--the spitting image of her mother--she plans to toss them out on their furry ears. But first, the sextet of felines goes on an excursion with their mother to meet their father, who prophetically names the tiniest of the litter Boadicea: "She was a great warrior queen, brave and fearless." After a few brushes with danger, Bo finds a home with Billy, a first mate on a fishing trawler (who names her Bonnie, "Bo" for short). Though Bo is responsible for several turning points in the novel (a bike collision that saves her and her siblings from being drowned in the river; Billy's departure from the boat), her personality remains oddly undefined. In Cole's (Livingstone Mouse) full-page paintings, which open each chapter, and spot illustrations, his portraits of the kittens are charming. But he often opts for a rear view of the human and animal characters even in pivotal scenes, which distances readers from the action. Still, children will come away with the moral that, like Bo, their size may be small, but they can accomplish big things. Ages 8-up. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.