PUMPKIN CAT
by Ann Turner & illustrated by Amy June Bates
An orange cat, caught out in the New England autumn, finds a cozy place to sleep in the book drop of the town library. Librarians Rochelle and Lisa adopt her and name her Pumpkin Cat. Pumpkin loves the library, but something is missing. She’s lonely at night. After a Halloween celebration, the librarians discover a black kitten left in a basket on their doorstep. The librarians are angry, but Pumpkin Cat adopts Halloween Cat and shares her library. Turner tells the gentle seasonal story from the cat’s perspective; though it’s short, it manages to meander and nearly lose itself. The real selling point here is Bates’s realistic, golden-hued watercolors. Pumpkin Cat has just the right amount of expressive, anthropomorphic charm. Pumpkin Cat’s search is never compelling, but the package is as comfortable as a cat on a cable knit sweater. (Picture book 3-6)