Cuddle the Cutest Kitten: Princess Party Sleepover Read online

  Cuddle’s Fan Pages

  Here’s what other children have to say about their favourite kitten and her latest adventure!

  “I liked the story about sleepovers because I have never been to one. I also liked when they played princesses, because I have always wanted to be a princess.” Kittie, age 7

  “My favourite bit of the story was when they met a princess called Victoria in a tree and they thought she was a thief. It was funny. I think there should be more stories about Cuddle.” Emily, age 8

  “I liked the bit when Olivia was so excited about her first sleepover. I loved it when Cuddle appeared. I also liked the part when they dressed up in Victoria’s room.” Sophia, age 6

  “I didn’t just like a little bit - I liked ALL of it!” Bethany, age 6

  “I really liked this Cuddle story because it’s about a sleepover and I would love to have a sleepover with my best friend too. The girls were very lucky to meet a real princess. I liked it when they all went to the ball together.” Maia, age 6

  “This was the best Cuddle book ever! I really liked the princess who was a tomboy and didn’t want to wear a frilly dress. The king and queen were happy when she went to the ball and I liked that.” Ava, age 8

  “I liked it when they went to the ball, and also the end bit when they were home in bed because they get to sleep! I loved the story, it was just right for me.” Lucina, age 6

  by Hayley Daze

  illustrated by Ann Kronheimer

  cover illustrated by Amanda Gulliver

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Sunset Surprise

  Chapter Two

  Treetop Trouble

  Chapter Three

  Princess Problems

  Chapter Four

  Feline Fashion Fix

  Chapter Five

  Dressing-up Fun

  Chapter Six

  Four Princesses

  Chapter Seven

  Trying Something New

  Chapter Eight

  Sweet Dreams

  Other books about

  Cuddle the Cutest Kitten:

  Magical Friends

  Superstar Dreams

  School of Spells

  To Daisy and Elizabeth

  Cuddle the kitten has black-and-white fur,

  A cute crooked tail, and a very loud purr.

  Her two best friends, Olivia and Grace,

  Know Cuddle’s world is a special place!

  Just give her a cuddle, then everything spins;

  A twitch of her whiskers, and magic begins!

  So if you see a sunbeam, and hear Cuddle’s bell,

  You can join in the adventures as well!

  Chapter One

  Sunset Surprise

  It was a warm summer’s evening and Olivia’s bedroom window was wide open. Purple wisteria flowers nodded against the sill and furry bumblebees buzzed round them, collecting the last of the day’s pollen. The setting sun made the houses of Catterton glow a rosy pink.

  “Our first sleepover!” Olivia squealed, twirling in her pink, ruffled nightie.

  “I’ve never been to a sleepover before,” Grace said, doing up the last button of her favourite star-patterned pyjamas. “What should we do first?”

  The girls flopped on Olivia’s bed, which had a fluffy pink duvet.

  “Let’s play princesses,” Olivia suggested. She leapt to her feet, wobbling on her bed.

  She wrapped her duvet round her shoulders like a royal robe.

  “Ta-dah!” she said and pretended to wave at her loyal subjects.

  “Hello, Your Royal Highness!” Grace said, and bowed to Olivia.

  “Now it’s your turn,” Olivia said, jumping down to sit beside Grace. “You’d make a lovely princess.”

  Grace shook her head, making her blonde hair fly about. “No way! Who wants to be a princess and have to wear dresses and go to boring parties? Yuck!”

  Olivia stared open-mouthed at her friend. “I would love to be a princess, trying on all those lovely outfits and tiaras.”

  Suddenly, the setting sun sent a golden beam of light directly through the open window.

  “Maybe Cuddle’s coming!” Olivia said, looking down into her back garden. The girls couldn’t wait to see the cute magical kitten again. Cuddle always arrived in a sudden burst of sunshine and took them on amazing adventures.

  Just then, a sound drifted through the window.

  Jingle jangle jingle.

  “That’s her bell!” Grace cried.

  The wisteria branch beneath Olivia’s window was shaking, its flowers bobbing up and down. A tiny white tail with a kink in its black tip flicked out from the quivering leaves.

  “Cuddle!” both girls shouted.

  The kitten’s green eyes flashed as she scrambled on to the windowsill, the silver bell on her pink collar jangling.

  She sprang between the girls into Olivia’s room, landing in the middle of the bed.

  “Miaow!”

  Cuddle pawed Olivia’s arm. Olivia scooped the kitten up, cradling her upside down to show her tummy.

  “Cuddle’s purring,” Olivia said, her eyes shining. “That means we’re going on another adventure!”

  “Where are you going to take us, Cuddle?” Grace asked, nuzzling Cuddle nose to nose.

  Cuddle’s purr grew louder and louder, buzzing like the bumblebees outside. The girls’ skin tingled all over, making them giggle.

  Grace and Olivia squeezed their eyes tightly shut.

  “Here we go!” Olivia said.

  Chapter Two

  Treetop Trouble

  The girls’ eyes fluttered open. They were still wearing their bedtime clothes and slippers. The evening sky was purple and stars twinkled overhead. A gravel drive stretched before them, edged on either side by flower beds. The drive ended in a bridge, stretching over what looked like a stream.

  “It’s a moat!” Grace said, pointing at the sparkling water. “I’ve heard of those. They were built around old buildings to protect them from enemies.”

  On the other side of the bridge was a grand house, its hundreds of windows glittering with a golden light.

  Music and laughter drifted through an open doorway. On the roof fluttered a red flag with a crown on it, and the number 1853 in swirly lettering beneath it.

  “It’s a palace,” Olivia said, clapping her hands. “And that number on the flag must be the year! Maybe a real princess lives here!”

  Cuddle darted up the drive, pausing to look back at the girls.

  “Miaow!” she called.

  “Okay, Cuddle, we’re coming,” Grace said, grabbing Olivia’s hand.

  The girls followed Cuddle across the bridge and towards the palace. Olivia peeked through one of the open windows. Inside was a magnificent ballroom. Glittering chandeliers hung over a dancing crowd, who were swaying in time to a four-piece band. Their costumes made a swirling sea of colour. The dancers all wore masks on their faces: some decorated with feathers, others shining with jewels.

  “It’s a masked ball,” Olivia whispered as she picked up Cuddle and twirled round to the music.

  “I’d much rather climb this,” Grace said, walking to a nearby tree that was almost as tall as the palace.

  Cuddle sprang from Olivia’s arms and scampered up the tree. “Miaow!” Cuddle said when she reached the lowest branch.

  The top of the tree began to sway. Grace peered up through the branches. She thought she saw something. A bird, maybe? Handfuls of leaves rained down on Grace and Cuddle. A big bird, Grace thought.

  “Pssst, Olivia.” Grace waved a
t her friend.

  Olivia danced over to the tree.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “I think someone’s in the tree,” Grace whispered.

  Olivia looked up and spotted Cuddle sitting on the lowest branch.

  “You mean someone other than Cuddle?”

  Grace nodded.

  The treetop jiggled and wiggled.

  Olivia clutched Grace’s arm.

  “Maybe it’s a thief trying to steal the crown jewels!”

  Grace called Cuddle as quietly as she could.

  “Please come here, Cuddle.”

  The kitten only blinked her bright green eyes and climbed further up the tree.

  “Cuddle, come back,” Olivia called.

  The tree’s leaves shuddered and shook. “Maybe the tree is haunted,” Grace said.

  Then suddenly a figure burst between the branches high above.

  It was heading straight for Cuddle!

  Chapter Three

  Princess Problems

  The strange creature in the tree came to rest on Cuddle’s branch. It wasn’t a thief or a ghost. It was a girl about the same age as Grace and Olivia. Her hair was in two bunches. Her canvas trousers were ripped, her face was smudged with dirt and she wasn’t wearing any shoes.

  “Hello!” the girl called.

  “How did you get up that tree?” Grace asked.

  “I climbed down from my bedroom window,” the girl said with a smile. “I do it all the time.”

  “But why?” Olivia asked.

  “I have to hide,” the girl said. Her eyes widened as she glanced over the top of their heads. “From her!” She pointed behind Grace and Olivia and ducked out of sight.

  A girl in a plain grey dress and a white apron marched straight over to the tree. The girl was a little older than Grace and Olivia, with brown hair woven into a French plait.

  “I know you’re up there!” the girl shouted. “You need to climb down.”

  “Do you promise I won’t have to go to the ball?” the girl in the tree called back.

  “You must go to the ball, Princess Victoria,” the girl in the grey dress said.

  “Princess!” Olivia exclaimed. Victoria didn’t look like any of the fairy-tale princesses in her books.

  “Yes, and if she doesn’t go to the ball we are both going to be in big trouble,” the girl said. “I’m Beth, by the way.”

  “I’m Grace. That’s Olivia and the kitten’s name is Cuddle. Maybe we can help,” Grace said. Beth looked relieved.

  “That would be lovely, thank you.” She lowered her voice so that Victoria couldn’t hear. “Princess Victoria never wants to put on her pretty dresses and join in with the royal duties. I don’t know why. The masked balls are such fun!”

  Grace and Olivia shared a glance.

  Grace could guess what Olivia was thinking. Olivia felt sure she knew what Grace would say next.

  “Cuddle’s brought us here to help the princess!” both girls whispered at the same time.

  Grace smiled her biggest smile.

  “I’ll get Princess Victoria back to her bedroom,” she told Beth. She leapt up, pulling herself on to the lowest branch.

  “Race you to the top of the tree!” Grace called to Victoria.

  “You’re on!” Victoria shouted back. Within moments, they had both disappeared among the branches.

  “Come on, Cuddle!” Olivia called.

  Cuddle scampered back down the tree and rubbed against the hem of Beth’s dress.

  “I’ll show you to Princess Victoria’s bedroom,” the maid said as she started walking towards the palace’s main entrance.

  “If we work together, I bet we can get the princess to go to the ball,” Olivia said.

  “I hope so, or her parents will be disappointed,” Beth said. “Princess Victoria is finally old enough to stay up for the masked ball and the king and queen are expecting to see her there.”

  Beth led Olivia and Cuddle up the broad marble steps to the grand doorway. A footman bowed as they entered the palace.

  Beth raced up a wide staircase in the hallway with Olivia and Cuddle right behind her.

  They walked down a long corridor, passing marble statues and rows of oil paintings, and stopped in front of a large wooden door. Carved into the surface was the letter ‘V’.

  Beth looked left and right. “Let’s be quiet. I could get into trouble if anyone sees you near the private quarters.”

  Beth pushed the door open and she, Olivia and Cuddle slipped in.

  Princess Victoria’s bedroom was like nothing Olivia had ever seen before. The thick carpet was a deep pink, and lilac curtains covered the windows. Victoria’s dressing table had a pearl-edged mirror hanging over it and was stacked high with jewellery boxes. On the wall was a glass cabinet filled with glittering tiaras. But Olivia couldn’t help noticing the muddy shoes and riding boots hiding beneath the princess’s bed too!

  The room had three wardrobes, each with frilly dresses spilling from them. In among all the dresses were a few pairs of canvas trousers, perfect for a tomboy to climb in.

  “I win!” Victoria shouted from outside. The princess and Grace climbed through the window and landed with a thud on the floor. As they scrambled to their feet, Grace gave Olivia a wink. Victoria looked even dirtier than before.

  “Now we can have our own party!” The princess grabbed Beth’s hands and whirled her around the room. Victoria’s face was bright with excitement, but Beth gently pulled her hands away.

  “We can’t.” Beth sighed. “You need to go to the ball and greet your royal subjects.”

  “It’ll be fun!” Olivia said.

  Beth took Victoria’s hand. “Just think how happy you’d make the king and queen.”

  But the princess sat down sadly on the bed. “Mummy and Daddy don’t understand,” she said, staring at the carpet. “They think it’s fun, wearing crowns and frilly clothes, but it makes me feel so silly. I wish I could keep them happy, but I just don’t want to go!”

  Chapter Four

  Feline Fashion Fix

  “Miaaaaaooooow!” Cuddle fell out of one of the wardrobes, landing with a flump in a tangle of dresses. A silver bracelet nestled between her ears.

  “Look, Victoria – Cuddle’s a princess too!” Olivia said.

  A small smile floated on Princess Victoria’s lips. “Maybe she could go to the ball instead of me.”

  Grace hurried over to help Olivia tidy up and whispered in Olivia’s ear. “I’ve got an idea for how we can get Victoria to go to the ball!”

  Grace picked up a silver scarf and knotted it around her forehead. She grabbed an umbrella from one of the wardrobes and swiped it through the air like a sword.

  “Ahoy there,” she said in a growling voice. “I’m not Grace – I’m a pirate! I sail my ship on the seven seas, and if you don’t do what I say, I’ll make you walk the plank.”

  Princess Victoria giggled. “I love to pretend!”

  Beth tossed Victoria an umbrella and Victoria and Grace ran around the room, pretending to sword fight.

  After a while, Grace lowered her umbrella sword and smiled at Victoria. “You could pretend that you like dressing up and going to balls,” she said, in her normal voice.

  “It’s easy – just imagine you’re acting on stage,” Olivia added.

  “That’s a good idea,” Beth said. “Go on, Your Highness – just for tonight.”

  There was a sudden movement as Cuddle scrabbled around in the pile of dresses. She twitched her whiskers, and a pink dress floated across the carpet. It landed at Olivia’s feet.

  Princess Victoria gasped. “Cuddle’s magic?”

  “I think she’s deciding what we should wear to the ball,” Olivia said.

  Cuddle’s whiskers twitched again. A polka-dot dress moved towards Grace. She held it up and showed the girls the deep pockets on each side.

  “It’s like my combat trousers back home.”

  Next, Cuddle pushed against
Beth’s ankles, nudging her towards a shimmering blue gown covered in sparkly sequins. Beth’s eyes shone as she picked it up.

  Then the little kitten sat beside a white dress embroidered with tiny flowers. The sleeves were edged with red ribbons and it had an underskirt of red lace. Cuddle stared hard at Princess Victoria.

  “Why don’t you try it on?” Grace asked.

  Princess Victoria picked up the dress. “It’s all … frilly. Do I really have to wear it?”

  Cuddle threw back her head and yowled.

  “Miaowwwooowwwooowww!”

  “I think that’s a yes,” Olivia said, laughing.

  But Victoria shook her head and dropped the dress on to the floor.

  “Sorry, Cuddle. Dressing up just isn’t any fun!”

  Olivia’s heart sank. How could they persuade this tomboy princess to go to the ball?

  Chapter Five

  Dressing-up Fun

  Cuddle crept towards the princess’s bare feet. She shook her head so her whiskers brushed over them.

  “Hee hee!” giggled Victoria.

  Grace turned to Olivia and Beth. “I think Cuddle’s got a plan,” she whispered excitedly.

  The kitten swished her curly tail against Victoria’s ankles.

  “That tickles!” the princess squealed. Cuddle flicked her tail again and Victoria spun away from Cuddle, shaking with laughter.

  “It’s like you’re dancing!” Grace cried, watching Princess Victoria skip and leap around the room to escape Cuddle’s tickles.