Cat's Pajamas

September 1, 2001
Two additions to the Harper Growing Tree series encourage little ones to settle down for the night. Cat's Pajamas by Thacher Hurd (for ages 1-up) boasts a rhythmic, hand-clapping text (Cool cats, hip cats, kitty cats/ MEOW!/ Bopping down dark streets/ Looking for CHOW!) and inventive illustrations (brightly colored cats against a photo collage of dusky cityscapes) leading up to the moment when the felines crawl under the covers. One Sleepy Baby by Pamela Levine, illus. by Stephanie Milanowski (for newborns and up), counts up to 10 and to slumber: "1 sleepy baby/ 2 tired eyes./ 3 bedtime stories, a special lullaby." Crisp illustrations of Mama, Daddy and baby complement the tender verse's dreamy tone.