HERE, KITTY, KITTY!/VEN, GATITA, VEN!

This entry in Mora’s highly successful bilingual series My Family/Mi Familia introduces a family’s energetic new kitty/gatita, whose mischievous antics inside and outside the house are all forgiven with warm affection. Suárez’s full-page illustrations in bright watercolors depict a traditional home, featuring some Latino-accented patterns in sofa pillows, blankets and rugs and accentuating the cozily familiar setting of this simple bilingual tale. Cockeyed, dimpled smiles adorn every round face, human, feline and canine, making it clear to readers that there’s more game than worry to the chase. “I almost touch her, / Casi la toco, / but she runs and hides again. / pero corre y se esconde otra vez.” Chasing and coaxing finally lead to kitty, their “soft (and sweet) friend / amiga dulce,” to come close enough for some love. Preschoolers learning or proficient in either language will smile along. (Picture book. 3-6)