Tuesday Storytime: Cats

A sweet trio of cat stories today.

Little Spotted Cat

Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Dan Andreasen

ISBN: 0803726929

Soft-edged watercolors and a big-headed kitten - think a sedate Skippyjon.

"It's time for your nap, you Little Spotted Cat" says Mama Cat, but kitten has other plans, and creates chaos (as kittens are wont to do) through the yard before Mama finally physically intervenes and forces a general cleaning up of messes before naptime is enforced.  Sweet, repetitive, and adorable illustrations.

Have You Seen my Cat?

Eric Carle

ISBN: 22960000748425

Eric Carle's illustration style isn't amazingly served by this slight travelogue, but the cats are fun.

A boy goes through the world and asks various people (of various cultures, somewhat stereotypically presented) if they have seen his cat, and all respond with a cat of their geographical area.  We start with a bang with a lion in a zoo, then wander through bobcats and mountain lions and florida jaguars before crossing the ocean and getting into the serious wild-cats of the world, then end up with a persian on a blue rug before finally getting home to a collage of multi-colored house-cats.  I think the ending would have been better served by having a single individual cat as the finale, but even so, it's a fun short romp through cat varieties.

Cat Secrets

Jef Czekaj

ISBN: 22960000417930

A trio of computer-graphic-style cats questions whether the readers are cats, worthy of reading their Secret book.

I don't do interactive books very often, because this age-group is a little young for the concept to really work well.  The parents enjoy them immensely, so I do throw one in if I think the other qualities of the book can carry it for the little ones.  This one fits the bill perfectly.  The illustrations are punchy and the expressions are clear.  In addition to breaking the fourth wall, the book also asks for audience participation, so the kids can meow, purr, and stretch like cats, even if they don't quite understand why.  The sub-story (unmentioned by the dialogue) with the mouse is adorable, easy to point out and follow, and has a lovely payoff at the end.  I would love to do this with a group of kindies or 1st graders, but parents will have to do.