Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
PreSchool-Grade 1—A dawdling kitten and her patient mother take part in a daily ritual that will be familiar to parents and children: "Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, are you waking up?/Not yet Mother, I'm a sleepy buttercup." The two continue their back-and-forth exchange as Kitty Cat dilly-dallies and Mother urges her through each step of the morning routine and gets her off to school. Martin uses the repetitive formula that worked so well inBrown Bear, Brown Bear What Do you See?(1983) and, more recently,Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?(2007, both Holt), but this time the cumulative questions actually advance a narrative. Kitty Cat is the star of her own show, romping across the pages, knowing that she will eventually get to where she needs to be. There is never a sense of urgency on Mother's part, either, which makes the final line "Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, now we have to go!/Okay, Mother, I'm sorry I'm so slow" seem like an unexpected chastisement. The accompanying picture of mother and daughter sharing a warm hug helps to defuse the negativity. Bryant's illustrations, rendered in watercolor and colored pencil, are playful, light, and absolutely adorable. This book is perfect for sharing one-on-one, preferably while snuggling.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.