I'm a huge fan of the Shmyak series, and I've read and re-read the previous books with my daughter. We just love the little guy and have a whole collection of his stories.
Shmyak the Kitten. How to Make Dad Happy. Rob Scotton
Title: "Shmyak the Kitten. How to Make Dad Happy."
Author: Rob Scotton
Cover: hardcover
Number of pages: 32
Format: 23*15 cm
Age restrictions: 3+
Publisher: Clever
I was really looking forward to reading this one with my daughter, but my first impressions were a bit of a letdown. As a huge fan of the series, I was expecting the same level of charm and engagement that the previous books have delivered. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite hit the mark.
Despite the promising title, I found myself struggling to connect with the story from the very beginning. I was hoping for the same level of whimsy and humor that I've come to expect from the series, but it just didn't feel the same. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like something was missing.
That being said, I did appreciate the attention-grabbing cover and the promise of a new adventure with Shmyak. I'm still holding out hope that the next book in the series will get back to the magic that made me fall in love with these stories in the first place.
Kotenok Shmyak. How to Cheer Up Dad. Rob Scotton
The story of Kotenok Shmyak is about Dad feeling down after breakfast, and Shmyak wanting to lift his dad's spirits. Shmyak remembers that Dad used to win a "three-step dash" competition with his grandfather when he was a kid, and he thinks that Dad could win again. They start training hard for the event, but things don't quite go as planned on the day. Shmyak even gets a bit frustrated, but to his surprise, Dad thinks the whole experience is hilarious and laughs it off. Shmyak is a bit puzzled, but he's happy that Dad is smiling again.
Kotenok Shmyak. How to Cheer Up Dad. Rob Scotton
The story itself is sweet and has a great message, with some funny moments that are typical of Rob Scotton's style. However, I found it a bit hard to read with my daughter. I think it might be because the theme of sports and competition isn't really our cup of tea. Plus, there were some words like "stadium," "competitions," and "three-step dash" that might be a bit tricky for a two-year-old to understand. We had to explain some of those concepts, and it wasn't as engaging as some of the other stories we've read, which were more relatable to our lives.
Kitten Shmek. How to Make Dad Happy. Rob Scotton
When I read this one to my kid, I noticed she just wasn't that into it. I tried reading it to her a few times, but she'd lose interest pretty quickly and ask me to read something else instead. It was like she'd already seen it all before, and wasn't impressed.
Kitten Shmek. How to Make Dad Happy. Rob Scotton
The illustrations are, as always, bright and colorful, with cute characters. The font is nice and big, so even younger readers can follow along.
Personally, I was hoping for something a bit more exciting from this story. Maybe it's just me, but I felt like it was missing that special something that makes the Shmyak series so lovable.
Kitten Shmek. How to Make Dad Happy. Rob Scotton
Although the storyline itself is pretty good, showing some great family values. I loved how Shmek goes to such lengths to make his dad happy. And his silly training sessions, complete with tangled shoelaces and awkward falls, were actually pretty funny.
Kitten Shmek. How to Make Dad Happy. Rob Scotton
It's also nice to see some of the supporting characters, like Dad Prank, and Shipe's and Kitti's moms, all pitching in to help Shmek's big competition.
Overall, this story is well done, but I guess sports just aren't our thing, especially in books. Maybe that's just me, though!
Kitten Smek. How to Delight Dad. Rob Scotton
One of the things I love about this book is that it shows kids that winning isn't everything. Even if your little one doesn't come out on top, it's not a reason to feel down.
There's plenty to discuss with your child after reading this.
FINAL VERDICT
Kitten Smek. How to Delight Dad. Rob Scotton
✅ Vibrant, colorful pictures
✅ A sweet story and lovable characters
✅ Large font size
✅ Not too much text on each page, making it easy for young readers to follow along
✅ A compact book that's perfect for taking on the go
✅ Teaches kids about kindness and family values
❌ My daughter wasn't too impressed with this one - it didn't quite capture her attention. But that's probably just my personal opinion. The story itself is pretty good.
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You can read my other reviews of Smek books and more here:
Smek. Sweet or Sour. Rob Scotton
Kitten Smek and Ocean Tales. Rob Scotton
Kitten Smek. Good Stories. Rob Scotton
Goodnight, Smek! Rob Scotton
Playing with Dad. Sandra Grimm - my daughter's favorite book about a teddy bear dad
Kolobok. Repka. Kurotchka Ryaba. Yassen i Buk Publishing House Russian Folk Tales - a book with the most unusual illustrations I've ever seen.
BimBiMon with windows I'm going to nursery school. - getting my little one ready for nursery school is a breeze with this book!
Yezhik and I'm searching for mom. Yulia Vessova - this book really helped me teach my kid about emotions, but it took some time to get used to the style.