Portland, OR, May 29, 2024 — Marlena Sweet, a lifelong advocate for animals, has completed her new book, “Kitten Has a Bad Day: A Very Bad Day Indeed!”: a charming tale that follows the adventures of an orange kitten who learns a series of important lessons while experiencing one of the worst days ever.
Born in British Columbia, Canada, in 1948, author Marlena Sweet moved with her family to Oregon, where she currently resides in southeast Portland. The author has always had strong emotional attachments to her pets and is passionate about the physical health of other critters met through unexpected encounters. She shares her home with three cats and a dwarf rabbit and derives joy in feeding the feral cat community in her neighborhood. She has been writing poetry and creative short stories since she was in grade school, and after being diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma six years ago, began dedicating her time to writing full-time.
“The story shows how a small child (in this case, a kitten) learns to try new things but must always be very careful,” writes Marlena. “It teaches that when they get overtired, they need to lie down for a rest so they don’t get sick. Best of all, it teaches that mommy or daddy will be there to help make everything better when they get overly tired or sick. That will let them know that getting the rest they need is very important if they want to stay healthy and have playdates with their friends. When the dog in the story decides not to chase or bark at the kitten anymore, it teaches your child that sometimes we have to be nice to our playdate friends and siblings, especially when they ask us nicely to stop bothering them. This teaches the child to ignore them and find something else to do, which is where compassion and forgiveness begins. Perhaps the child can color a picture for their sibling or friend, study picture books (like this one), or take a short nap if they’re tired!”