Cat Dreams
PreSchool-Grade 2—The team that created the "Catwings" series (Scholastic) has collaborated on this pleasing meditation. Both the story and text are simple: a cat's dreams are filled with kibble and cream, scaring away dogs, and climbing catnip trees. But when the dream turns nightmarish by a flock of squawking blue jays, the reality of a warm lap nearby is even better.Cat Dreamsoffers a satisfying read for cat lovers who can enjoy the tranquil illustrations, rendered in watercolor and gouache. Many of the elements of the animal's dream—a day when it rains mice, sleeping in a blue jay's nest—are revealed in the squares of the quilt on which the feline lies with such cozy charm (observant readers should also look out for a few catwings flying by). But the highlight of the book is the reinforcement of the conceit that humans somehow enrich a cat's life. The rhyming text is concise and easy enough for emerging readers. Pair this with Sue Stainton'sI Love Cats(HarperCollins, 2007) for a cat-themed quiet time.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.