Matilda's Cat

PreS-Gr 1—The day Matilda put on her cat suit and made mischief of one kind and another, her aloof and rather skittish feline just said, "No." Despite the child's best efforts, Matilda is unable to engage her pet in playing with wool or boxes, climbing trees, or riding bikes. After a failed tea party, drawing session, and bedtime story, the youngster takes off her cat suit and gets ready for bed and finally captures the tabby's attention. The energetic watercolor artwork is pure Gravett, with plenty of visual jokes and with characters—girl and cat—who express their feelings with every fiber of their being. For every overly exuberant youngster who has ever attempted to win the affections of a feline, this picture book offers reassurances that the friendship bond will most like occur but perhaps not on the child's timetable.—Luann Toth, School Library Journal