Anna Marie and the Puzzling Pieces LONG book description

When her kittens are kidnapped, Charles the calico cat turns to her friend Anna Marie for help. Although Anna Marie is only four years old, she is pretty tough, and in her mind she is practically a big girl.

The kidnapper, known only as the sad bad boy, gives Charles a list of ingredients and says that if they aren't collected by the end of the summer, he will turn Charles's kittens over to the horrible and evil Coldy-Coldy.

Charles and Anna Marie set out enthusiastically to gather the components, but they soon realize the list involves time-consuming tasks, like growing their own plants, finding super rare stones, and searching for tiny pumpkins no bigger than blueberries.

The summer seems to be flying by and their seedlings are slowly growing when their luck finally changes. With the help of a slimy banana slug, a wise old skunk wearing glasses, and a family of honey bees who own their own farmer's market, Charles and Anna Marie race against time to gather the components for the sad bad boy.

But they are not the only ones who are becoming impatient. The Coldy-Coldy wants Charles's kittens too and sends some of his meanest servants to do his dirty work for him.