(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. Employing her mastery of repetition and rhythm, Brown conveys the classic sensory images of the Christmas season. Mortimer's realistic, richly hued watercolors depict curious Pussycat as she recognizes traditional holiday trappings--sparkling Christmas-tree lights, forest-green holly, orange tangerines, and brown walnuts. The book was first published in 1949 with illustrations by Helen Stone.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. Snow Kitten comes across Santa's Christmas Eve gear scattered throughout the house. After falling asleep in Santa's sack, the kitty inadvertently joins him for his annual journey. Fans of Mortimer's realistic cat illustrations won't be disappointed, though the lackluster story featuring Stainton's Snow Cat character promises adventure it doesn't deliver.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. A chocolatier feels uninspired until "one day, for no particular reason," he molds chocolate mice. His cat delivers them to other shop proprietors, unlocking a wealth of creativity that transforms the entire village from drab to delicious. Though the meandering text is hard to follow, richly colored illustrations on pages bordered with treats entice the eye and flavor the story.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) PS Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. The off-stage narrator loves all cats: "Dancing cats, prancing cats. / Wiry cats, fiery cats..." The bouncy, rhythmic text, set in different fonts, is brought to life by Mortimer's humorous illustrations of realistic-looking cats involved in playful activities. Fans of felines will enjoy the romp.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) PS Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. A feathery owl and a soft furry cat go to sea in this rendering of Lear's poem. The illustrations are tactile and full of details, from seals, cormorants, and sea horses in the ocean to curling ferns, insects, and orchids on land. Attractive as they are, however, the pictures lack the whimsy one would expect to accompany this nonsense verse.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. A twenty-four-candle lantern atop a lighthouse is tended to by a lonely keeper. Company arrives in the form of a cat stowed away in a supply delivery. When a storm whips up and extinguishes the lantern, it is the cat and his feline friends that save a ship from ruin. While the plot is far-fetched, the realistic art will appeal to cat lovers.

Reviewer: Hilary Breed Van Dusen

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown's 1955 collection Sneakers: Seven Stories about a Cat, the lyrical text follows "a little fat cat" on his first visit to the seashore. Nothing momentous happens, but his surroundings are conveyed with the sensory detail that Brown excelled at depicting. Realistic paintings accompany the text.

Reviewer: Terri Schmitz

(3) PS Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. A sweet rhyming story addressed to a gray tabby recounts Kittycat's busy day finding mischief in the house and then encourages the cat to settle down in her basket for the night. The soothing lilt of the text and the cozy watercolors--which include a plump mouse somewhere in each picture--together form a comforting book that is perfect to share at bedtime.

Reviewer: Anne St. John

(3) PS Illustrated by Anne Mortimer. A striped gray kitten "peeks at January, / toys with February, / stalks March" and continues to pursue feline activities through the rest of the year. On each double-page spread, the white letters of the text, set against a brightly colored background, face a picture of the tabby exploring its natural and domestic surroundings. Seasonal flowers are prominent in most of the illustrations.

Reviewer: Anne St. John