Happy Cat

PreS-K—On a cold night, a chilly kitty slides through the basement window of a house and encounters a rat. As he makes his way up the stairs, he comes upon the other animal residents: a dog, a rabbit, a bird, and an elephant. Each occupant is busy reading, painting, or playing music and presents the feline with a gift. When Cat reaches the top, he settles into his new home and is warm and happy. This selection is pleasantly illustrated in watercolor, gouache, and ink. Cat is a plump, likable yellow tabby. Each animal has its own space as shown in cutaway views of the house. Three-word sentences allow beginning readers to connect with the action of the story while the bright spreads provide lots of opportunities for discussion. Repetitive sentence structure and an engaging, simple story with colorful illustrations offer incentive for new readers to develop their reading skills.—Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools, OH