Cat

A simple text follows a young kitten - beautifully depicted in Anne Mortimer's lush illustrations - through the months of the year in this picture-book for younger children, from the peeking of January to the dreaming of December. Each two-page spread features one of Mortimer's paintings on one side, and a few words of text, on a colorful monochrome background, on the other. By the end of the year, the kitten has become a cat...

Although I wouldn't say that A Kitten's Year holds much narrative appeal, given its lack of story, I did appreciate Anne Mortimer's artwork! She appears to be the "cat painter" extraordinaire these days, and having discovered her work through the reviews of a friend (thanks, Kathryn!), and greatly enjoyed such titles as Santa's Snow Cat, I have been looking for other titles she illustrated. I liked the kitten's growth in these illustrations, and appreciated some of the postures and expressions Mortimer gave her feline subject. The scene where the kitten is sniffing Thanksgiving dinner reminds me of my own kitty-cat, and how he sticks his nose in the air, in order to get a better whiff. Recommended to all young cat lovers, and to fans of Anne Mortimer's art! ( )

Summer reading. Leveled high-PreK. This is an easy reader, but not for phonetics. Kindergarten-ready children should know the months of the year and be able to regonize them in print. This book will ensure that. ( )