I LOVE CATS

Feline fans will certainly appreciate Mortimer’s typically splendid and plush renderings of cats. These adorable, playful and wide-eyed creatures can practically be petted. The text’s a bit problematic, however, beginning seemingly like a book about opposites, then moving on to adjectives that are sometimes near, sometimes exact rhymes. At best, children will be introduced to many unfamiliar words, though their meanings aren’t always clearly demonstrated. The art for “Whirly cats,” for example, is static, showing a cat holding onto its tail but without conveying a cat’s ability to twirl around while doing so. Kids may not altogether get “Wiry cats” either. The “cats on your head” page is priceless, though, portraying a very contented kitty dozing atop a bemused dog’s head. The book does work as a joyous celebration of cats, and readers and listeners will find much to purr-posefully pore over. (Picture book. 3-6)