Cone Cat

Jeremy the cat has a cone around his neck courtesy of the vet (the cause is not specified), which has turned him into a shadow of his former nimble, sneaky self. "Now he was knocking into doorjambs and backing his way down the stairs with all the grace of a fat squirrel," writes author Howden (5-Minute Amazing Animal Stories), striking a tone of haughty weariness. "He didn't smell so good either." But you can't keep an imperious feline down for long: Jeremy discovers that the cone can actually function as a useful funnel, holding bits of food he manages to scrounge (including ice cream from a birthday party), and, in one of the funniest illustrations, an entire cushion's worth of stuffing. Pared-down vignettes by Mok (Grandmother's Visit) capture both the inner workings of Jeremy's mischievous mind and his comical prowling. While he makes no bones about his feelings for his owners ("Of course, a gathering of little humans can be a nightmare for a cat," the narrator says as the birthday party gets underway), readers will find it hard to resist the prickly charms of this expressive sourpuss. Ages 3-7. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 1—An accident-prone house cat learns to love the cone that has been placed around his head for safety. When Jeremy the cat wakes up one day to discover that he has been fitted with a cone, he is utterly distraught. It blocks his view, bends his whiskers, and really puts a crimp in his super-cat style. After some trial and error, Jeremy discovers a way to use the cone to his advantage, but then it's time for the cone to be removed. Jeremy, a blue-and-white cat of indeterminate age, is drawn with sly, sleepy eyes. He finds ways to bend the cone to his will, first discovering its usefulness as a funnel for milk, then as a spider catching device, and even as an acoustic aid. Jeremy's thoughts are distinguished by the use of bold text, and colorful illustrations featuring Ava, the small human who Jeremy mostly tries to avoid, fill the story with light and levity. Readers will chuckle at the sight of a cat waiting in line to receive his share of birthday cake. VERDICT Purchase where pet stories are popular, although the morals of adapting to change and making the best of a bad situation are sure to resonate with all young readers.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Lib.