A Bed for Kitty

July 1, 2014
In this slight follow-up to I See Kitty (2013), Chloe's new kitty has made herself at home, draping herself almost everywhere for her catnaps.Foreshadowing the theme of the book, the endpapers feature thumbnails of felines dozing on books and clothes, in bowls and shopping bags. Then Chloe asks, "Can I give Kitty her present now?" What is it? A bed for Kitty! But as much as Kitty loves sleeping, she is not interested in her bed. From one spread to the next, Chloe's excitement changes from surprise to bewildered frustration to despondence as Kitty sleeps on the bag her bed came in, Chloe's chair, the litter box (Chloe says "Eep!"), Mom's favorite sweater and right in the middle of Chloe's bed. The simple text will allow the book to serve some youngsters as an early reader. As before, the illustrations pay homage to the Hello Kitty aesthetic: black outlines, big shapes, matte colors. Chloe's expressions are captured in pinprick eyes and a mouth indicated by a line or an O. Only when sad Chloe climbs onto Kitty's bed does Kitty pay attention, stretching out right on top of Chloe.While cat lovers will respond to the "aww" factor here, this outing will not, unlike the first, stand up to repeated readings. (Picture book. 3-6)

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August 1, 2014

PreS-Chloe's kitty loves to sleep, so the child is excited about giving her the perfect present, a new bed. Unfortunately, Kitty doesn't seem to like it. She seems to prefer sleeping almost anywhere else: on the TV, in her litter box, on Mom's favorite sweater, or even on a houseplant. Chloe is disappointed that her thoughtful gift is being ignored, so one night, when her pet has taken over her bed, Chloe curls up on Kitty's bed. Intrigued, the purring feline finally decides to sleep in her own bed-on top of Chloe. The illustrations are large and uncluttered, with minimal details or background. Feelings, whether human or feline, are clearly shown through facial expressions done with minimal lines-dots for eyes, a circle or line for mouth-and most spreads feature a single sentence. This sweet story will make a nice bedtime story for preschoolers curling up in their own soft beds among loved ones or a group read-aloud for the very youngest listeners.-Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ

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