Training Tallulah

British illustrator Reeve (My Friend Fred) makes her debut as an author with an unusual tale of new pets and role reversals. The book opens as a standard getting-to-know-you story as a girl named Tallulah tries to help her skittish new cat, Tom, feel at home—she leaves him a small saucer of milk, makes him a toy, and helps him learn the lay of the land. Tom appreciates her efforts and decides that “since Tallulah seemed to be so good at Cat, he should try to learn Human.” Notebook in paw, Tom observes Tallulah’s every move, learning how to dress, brush his teeth, and eat breakfast just like her. As Tom becomes increasingly human in his behavior, Talullah embraces her inner cat. Reeve’s mixed-media illustrations capably amplify the humor of the premise (Tallulah is shown sleeping in Tom’s old cardboard box while he gets the bed), but the wrap-up misfires. The strange Single White Female turn the book takes at the end is likely to both catch readers by surprise and leave them scratching their heads. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)