Pretty Kitty

In a big city in wintertime, a grumpy old man seems to be the furthest thing from a cat person--so, of course, he's catnip to 10 adorable strays. In rhyming couplets, Beaumont (Hats Off to You!) counts the kitties as they aggregate on the man's doorstep with howls and beseeching eyes: "9 kitties on the mat. /Please don't look at me like that. /I do not want a kitty cat." But there are signs that he doth protest too much, which Laberis (Bright Lights, Big Kitty!) underscores by alternating moody double-page scenes of his solitary urban life--taking full advantage of the book's horizontal format--with tightly focused vignettes that show the current fluffy, cuddly war for the man's heart. As snow arrives, the man closes the door on the pitiful feline huddle, and readers see, in a wordless spread of his living room, photos of a beloved cat from his younger days. In one, the now-balding man has a full head of bright red hair and is nuzzling his pet. It's a breathtaking moment of revelation; suddenly everything from preceding pages falls into the place. Now the question becomes, is he ready to love again? Spoiler alert: yes. Author's agent: the Fogelman Agency. Illustrator's agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright USA. Ages 4-8. (June)

PreS-Gr 1--A lonely old man, living alone in a big city, knows he does not want a pet cat. One night he meets up with a cute kitten while walking home from the grocery store. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to get rid of the feisty feline. It follows him home even after it's told to scat. Unfortunately, the old man's problem is far from over. The next day, he finds two kittens on his door mat. Then three greet him. Four cats and then five! When will this stop? This is a sweet book about a man opening his heart and home to 10 lovable cats. The illustrations are bold and full of detail. The colorful cats vary in appearance and are full of playful antics. They swat at him through the letter slot, frolic with his newspaper, and play with his slippers. Their big pleading eyes will make anyone give in to them. Readers see the elderly man slowly warming up to the animals, even though he tries his hardest to not care. He finds himself beginning to smile and enjoys spending time with them. He feeds them and even worries when the weather gets cold and snowy. The rhyming text and repetitive refrain encourages children to chime in and be part of the story. VERDICT This is a fun and engaging read-aloud for young children. And they don't even have to be cat lovers!--Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

"This is a fun and engaging read-aloud for young children. And they don't even have to be cat lovers!" —School Library Journal on Pretty Kitty

"The humorous cumulative text invites participation . . . Beautifully composed, each page propels the story to a climactic spread filled with hula hooping, magic tricks, juggling, soap bubbles, and music!" —School Library Journal on Crybaby

"The amusing illustrations of popular animals and the jaunty rhythm and rhyme will make this a favorite." —Kirkus Reviews on Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?