Stack the Cats

PreS-Gr 1--Ghahremani uses crisp, bold illustrations to introduce simple math concepts that go beyond the usual counting fare for the very young. The teetering tower of colorful cats in this title are more than just a pleasing collection of many-hued felines. "Four cats teeter. Five cats totter. Six cats prefer two stacks of three cats." The small, perfectly square size works seamlessly with the modern font, color, and lines. This could easily be told using felt or cutout pieces, and preschool teachers and parents will surely gain inspiration for their own cat stack games. VERDICT A simple yet clever lesson that there's more than one way to stack some cats. Ideal for one-on-one and small group sharing.--Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH

Ten cats attempt to stack themselves into impossibly adorable towers in a book that's ideal for children (or adults) obsessed with the cuddly cuteness of the Neko Atsume app. Working in bright teals, oranges, and yellows, Ghahremani (What Will Hatch?) renders her cats as bean-shaped blobs--some are fluffy as clouds, others are sleek and wide-eyed; sometimes, she doesn't even bother giving them legs. "One cat sleeps," she begins. "Two cats play. Three cats? Stack!" Cat stacks taller than three prove unstable ("Four cats teeter. Five cats totter"), the inevitable falls are injury-free affairs, and side-by-side piles offer a quick addition lesson: "Nine cats agree to three, three, and three." The cats all but beg to be named by readers, who will flip back through this sublimely silly outing to choose their favorites. Ages 3-5. Agent: Stefanie Von Borstel, Full Circle Literary. (May)