Marshmallow Pie: the Cat Superstar

Marshmallow Pie: the Cat Superstar by Clara Vulliamy (HarperCollins) PB RRP $9.99 ISBN: 9780008355869

Marshmallow Pie: the Cat Superstar on TV by Clara Vulliamy (HarperCollins) PB RRP $9.99 ISBN: 9780008355890

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

When an aristocratic cat with green eyes and a luxurious white coat moves to a new home, his owner Amelia decides he is destined for fame. Marshmallow Pie happens to agree. Together, they overcome their trepidation to enter a local talent search - but then disaster strikes, in the form of Marshmallow Pie himself.

In the first book of this series, we meet the narcissistic feline protagonist and learn to see the world from his cynical perspective. After Pie’s pride and temper gets both him and Amelia into strife, we see that there is a soft side hiding under all that fur, after all. In the sequel, Pie makes up for his self-centredness in a spectacular fashion.

With animal and human characters full of personality and imperfection, these stories are a perfectly balanced demonstration of making up for one’s mistakes with grace and good humour. Amelia is shy but determined, and her devotion to Pie gives her the courage to reach out to a school peer and forge a friendship. 

Marshmallow Pie’s narration is full of dry humour which reads as if spoken with a plummy upper-crust British accent. The pages are scattered with fun, expressive illustrations which add layers to the text and give extra life to the characters.

This book is a treat for animal-loving readers aged 7 to 12. We can’t wait for book three!