My Kitten

K-Gr 1—A little girl wakes in the morning with her tawny kitten taking over her pillow. O'Hair leads readers through their busy day in a rhyming text. They get tangled in yarn, chase squirrels, and the child has to rescue her pet from a tree. Throughout the day she gives it loving guidance. The full-bleed spreads show the playful feline's behavior. This is a strong choice for reading aloud and for beginning readers as it is composed of one- and two-word lines. Each page has four lines, and the first three end with the word "kitten," with the last line always being just one word. Lyon's drawings are a capable partner to the minimal text, visually filling in all that is happening. The art is realistic and energetic, and the little girl has lots of personality. The colors are vibrant and show all of the kitten's movements perfectly. The poetic text and endearing illustrations make this book a winner.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ