Bad Kitty Gets a Phone
By Carrie Kingsley, Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Funny graphic novel has great lessons about phone ownership.
Rate book
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
very funny
Monsters University
What's the Story?
In BAD KITTY GETS A PHONE, Kitty must do three months of chores to earn a phone, and soon learns there's more to having a phone than sitting and playing games. Kitty encounters bullying kids on social media, learns about making and watching videos, finds out that online privacy is important, and starts playing some very addictive games. Kitty has to learn about setting boundaries, and Kitty's owner has to take drastic measures when things get out of control.
Is It Any Good?
Life lessons are funny, direct, and completely relatable for kids and parents in this funny, meaningful, delightfully illustrated graphic novel. Author Nick Bruel tackles the thorny issue of young kids (well, young kitties) and cell phones in Bad Kitty Gets a Phone, and has found a funny, engaging way to teach young readers about the responsibilities of having a phone. That Kitty had to earn the phone through many months of consistent chores (without complaints) is a great way to start a conversation about entitlement. Kitty's owner set limits, modified those limits as new situations came up, and explained why the limits were changing. They talked about online privacy, social media, making and watching videos, bullying, and other important aspects of navigating online life. This great resource for families is wrapped in a fun read for kids with fantastic, engaging images on every page.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how online bullying makes Bad Kitty feel in Bad Kitty Gets a Phone. How is it different from bullying that happens in person? How is it the same?
What do you think are reasonable limits for being online at your age? How do you think the limits should change as you get older?
At what age do you think a person should get a phone? What responsibilities should come with that?
Book Details
- Author: Nick Bruel
- Genre: Graphic Novel
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: December 28, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 7 - 10
- Number of pages: 144
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: February 7, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Graphic Novels and Memoirs
Kids' Books About Social Media and Digital Life
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate