School Library Journal (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

PreS-Gr 1 Slipper lives a happy life with Mrs. Fluffy Slippers. When the old woman moves, the poor tabby is left behind in the commotion. Chasing after the moving van, she gets lost and decides that she will adopt a new owner. Portrayed from the perspective of a cat, all humans are cleverly depicted as various pairs of footwear. Slipper rejects Ms. Muddy Boots, High Tops, and Mr. Big Boots and finally runs into Miss Shiny Shoes, whom she accepts, and who serendipitously reunites her with Mrs. Fluffy Slippers. Mader's full-spread pastels portray Slipper with realistic feline expressions that cat lovers and owners will immediately recognize. The depictions of poignant moments, such as the tiny cat in an immense dark forest with only the word "Lost!" above her or Slipper contentedly sprawled out on her owner's feet, are sure to capture the audience's attention and affection, and make them root for the intrepid feline. A neatly told story, sweet without being saccharine, that charms from beginning to end. Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY

ALA Booklist (Fri Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

This tale of a lost cat who searches for someone new to "adopt" should appeal to every child with a pet (or hoping to have one). Slipper the cat has always "lived with a little old lady in a little old house in a little old town." Mrs. Fluffy Slippers moves out one day to live with her daughter's family, and in the bustle, Slipper is left behind. So Slipper sets out to find a new family. Mader's cozy pastels lend a lustrousness and depth to the illustrations, which, in a nice touch, are mostly shown from a cat's-eye point of view, often of footwear. For example, Slipper encounters Mrs. Iron Shoes, and readers get a view of a horse's legs and one human boot in a stirrup. Slipper rejects each potential owner until she follows a small pair of shiny shoes Mrs. Fluffy Slippers, now in her daughter's home. A fresh tweak on the ever-absorbing and satisfying lost-and-found pet story.

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Cat Slipper is accidentally left behind when her owner moves. She tries to follow, gets lost, then searches for a new person to "adopt." Slipper eventually heads home with a kind little girl: her owner's granddaughter. The text occasionally verges on cutesy, but realistic pastel illustrations (many with a cat's-eye-view perspective) effectively convey the dangers of the outdoors and the coziness of home.

Kirkus Reviews

Attractive illustrations, gentle humor and a large but satisfying coincidence propel this first effort toward a happy ending. The plot is simple. A beloved cat, left behind in the bustle of moving, first tries to catch up then considers a variety of options before finding the perfect new home. Mader matter-of-factly describes Slipper the cat's wanderings and adds a touch of humor to the potentially poignant tale by assigning names to human characters based on their footwear. Shown from Slipper's vantage point, the pictures likewise focus on feet, from the cat's original owner, Mrs. Fluffy Slippers, through strangers that include the friendly Ms. Muddy Boots, intimidating High Tops and noisy Mr. Big Boots to the warmly welcoming Miss Shiny Shoes. Mader's realistic drawings, created with pastels, are particularly effective when a single image dominates the page (Mr. Big Boots' shiny red motorcycle on one spread, Slipper herself on another). While occasionally somewhat static, they add charm to the straightforward story and effectively portray both setting and characters. In at least one instance--a double-page spread that shows Slipper's silhouette, small and far off, engulfed by the dark forest around her--the pictures also add an emotional resonance that is mostly missing from the brisk text. Given the appealing subject matter, tightly focused visual storytelling and feel-good resolution, Slipper's adventures will likely find an enthusiastic audience, particularly among feline fanciers. (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Mader, a former ad exec, debuts with the delightful story of a cat named Slipper that gets separated from its owner. Readers see the world as Slipper does: first off, she-s not hoping to get adopted by a human-she believes she-s the one doing the adopting. Additionally, the humans are identified only by their footwear; Slipper-s original owner was Mrs. Fluffy Slippers, and the cat meets Ms. Muddy Boots, Mrs. Iron Shoes (a horse), Mr. Cowboy Boots, and others during her travels, which conclude with a happy reunion. Mader-s fine pastels ably represent the details and textures of the environments Slipper explores and the people she meets, from a motorcycle-s gleaming chrome during a -fast and scary ride,- courtesy of Mr. Big Boots, to the parade of footwear Slipper sees walking the concrete streets of a town. As for the gray-and-white striped cat herself, Mader had a real-life model in a cat that found its way to his doorstep, and it shows in his loving and lifelike images showcasing Slipper-s delicate, soft fur. Ages 4-8. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (Oct.)