K is For Kitten - Hardcover

Niki Clark Leopold, an author and poet, lives in Ruxton, Maryland.
Susan Jeffers is the illustrator of such distinguished picture books as Three Jovial Huntsmen, a Caldecott Honor book; Rachel Field's Hitty; and the ABBY Award-winning Brother Eagle, Sister Sky, which was also a New York Times besteller. She lives in New York.

reSchool-This alphabet book tells the story of Miss Rosie, a kitten rescued from an alley by a little girl. The simple rhyming text describes her adventures and learning experiences from lapping cream or falling into the pond to going to the vet. Each letter is given a four-line verse and highlighted in a larger font in uppercase. The illustrative word can be a noun, a verb, or "Oops" and "ZZzz's." Jeffers's gouache and colored-ink illustrations are enchanting. This feline is a soft, yellow tabby with big green eyes that just about jumps off the page into readers' arms so that they can feel its fur. There are many interesting points to discuss with children, such as the different insects on the "I" spread. The beauty of the book is in its simplicity and veracity. The little girl poised to lap the milk out of the saucer to teach the kitten is typical of a child. Better yet, with yawning girl, kitten, and dog, "Y is for Yawn" makes this a perfect bedtime story. The book is best for one-on-one reading, but the pictures are large enough to use a short rhyme or two in a storytime setting. Preschoolers will love this book.
Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
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