Pretty Kitty

April 16, 2018
In a big city in wintertime, a grumpy old man seems to be the furthest thing from a cat person—so, of course, he’s catnip to 10 adorable strays. In rhyming couplets, Beaumont (Hats Off to You!) counts the kitties as they aggregate on the man’s doorstep with howls and beseeching eyes: “9 kitties on the mat. /Please don’t look at me like that. /I do not want a kitty cat.” But there are signs that he doth protest too much, which Laberis (Bright Lights, Big Kitty!) underscores by alternating moody double-page scenes of his solitary urban life—taking full advantage of the book’s horizontal format—with tightly focused vignettes that show the current fluffy, cuddly war for the man’s heart. As snow arrives, the man closes the door on the pitiful feline huddle, and readers see, in a wordless spread of his living room, photos of a beloved cat from his younger days. In one, the now-balding man has a full head of bright red hair and is nuzzling his pet. It’s a breathtaking moment of revelation; suddenly everything from preceding pages falls into the place. Now the question becomes, is he ready to love again? Spoiler alert: yes. Author’s agent: the Fogelman Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, Bright USA. Ages 4–8.

June 1, 2018

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. VERDICT This is a fun and engaging read-aloud for young children. And they don't even have to be cat lovers!-Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
A lonely, old man fends off the affections of an increasing number of stray kitties."Old man. / Big city. / Pretty kitty. / Pretty little itty-bitty / kitty cat. / Pretty kitty. Wants a pat. / Don't you look at me like that. / I do not want a kitty cat. / SCAT!" Naturally, when the unnamed protagonist gets home, there are two meowing felines on his welcome mat, and he rebuffs them similarly. The pussycats are joined by a third. "Might have FLEAS. / Or some DISEASE. / Think you might be SIAMESE." Again he tells them to scat. As each new puss arrives, he offers a different excuse for why he doesn't want a cat--but sharp-eyed readers will note mementos in his house that hint of at least one cat in his past. With 10 on his mat, it starts to snow...and it turns out, one old guy has enough love for 10 cats, and they're good for snuggles. Beaumont's rhyme makes for a rollicking read as the protagonist's resolve to stay alone is slowly cracked by cuteness. Laberis' digitally created illustrations, a mix of spot and full-bleed, are irresistible in their scratchy, cartoon colorfulness, imbuing the big city with warmth. The old man is white and balding, with a fluffy gray mustache beneath an absurdly large nose.It's the first five minutes of Disney's Up for cat lovers--but with a happy ending. (Picture book. 2-7)

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May 15, 2018
Preschool-G In this homage to Green Eggs and Ham for the cat-loving set, a lonely old man in a big city sees a pretty little itty-bitty kitty cat, but snarls, I do not want a kitty cat. SCAT! The refrain continues when two cats show up on his doorstep. But he states poetically: Might have FLEAS. Or some DISEASE. As the count and refrain continue, there are finally 10 kitties on the mat, mewing plaintively. As the 10 cats line up scratching at his door, it begins to snow, and the final spread reads, Old man. Big city. Loves each pretty little kitty. Sly readers will notice why the kitties keep showing up?is that cat food on the grumpy old man's grocery list?!?and the humorous cartoonlike digital illustrations in warm colors showcase the 10 distinct personalities of the various cats. The old man's expressions range from anger and tears to eventual acceptance and contentment. Children will enjoy counting and following the felines as their numbers grow in this rhyming read-aloud.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2018
A chance encounter between an elderly man and a stray cat begins this cumulative tale in verse. Despite the narrator's refrain "I do not want a kitty cat," he relents when it begins to snow and winds up with not the one, but ten cats. (His reluctance is revealed to be grief over a lost feline friend.) The text paces the sweet story well with consistent rhyme and rhythm, and the expressive, cartoonlike illustrations use panels and speech bubbles to great effect.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)