Winter Cats

PreS-Gr 1--Willy, an indoor cat, longs to see the outside world. Willy's family feels that the indoor life is much warmer and cozier than the outside world. "Those outdoor cats are weird and wild--they're not like us," Willy's father says from the comfort of his upholstered armchair while the fire blazes. Willy wonders and watches and eventually cannot suppress his excitement any longer and ventures out into the cold winter day. Willy puts on a winter hat and gloves to cover some of his black and gray fur and meets up with a variety of kittens of all different colors and breeds. They welcome him without hesitation and invite him to play in their games. They sled, ice-skate, hang from icicles, and build snowcats, all while having a grand old time. Once Willy realizes that it is getting dark and he must return home, he brings his friends along with him. At first, his parents are hesitant but then realize that maybe this isn't so bad after all, and from that day forward the indoor and outdoor cats "meet nearly every day." Colorful, collage-like illustrations nicely complement the bright tone of the book. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase for any picture book collection, as its rhyming text makes this a strong read aloud with a solid lesson. --Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY