Pretty Kitty

PreS-Gr 1—A lonely old man, living alone in a big city, knows he does not want a pet cat. One night he meets up with a cute kitten while walking home from the grocery store. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to get rid of the feisty feline. It follows him home even after it's told to scat. Unfortunately, the old man's problem is far from over. The next day, he finds two kittens on his door mat. Then three greet him. Four cats and then five! When will this stop? This is a sweet book about a man opening his heart and home to 10 lovable cats. The illustrations are bold and full of detail. The colorful cats vary in appearance and are full of playful antics. They swat at him through the letter slot, frolic with his newspaper, and play with his slippers. Their big pleading eyes will make anyone give in to them. Readers see the elderly man slowly warming up to the animals, even though he tries his hardest to not care. He finds himself beginning to smile and enjoys spending time with them. He feeds them and even worries when the weather gets cold and snowy. The rhyming text and repetitive refrain encourages children to chime in and be part of the story.