My Cat, Coon Cat

As a girl greets a stray Maine coon cat she finds on her front porch, she poses questions to the cat, while gradually working to befriend it ("Hi cat, coon cat,/ Heard you at the door.../ Brought a mouse to our new house?/ Did you live here before?"). In singsong verse, the girl wonders if the cat needs a home, if it's wild or tame, and if it's hungry. After the coon cat naps in the sun, is chased by a dog, and interacts with the girl's small kitten, she brings it inside. As it curls up at bedtime with her and the kitten, she gushes a final welcome: "Tiger Cat, how is that?/ Now you have a name!/ I've never had a friend like you./ I'm so glad you came!" Fuller's (Moon Loon) sleepy narrative is enlivened a bit by Brett's (L Is for Lobster: A Maine Alphabet) large-scale art, which showcases the Maine spring in full bloom and offers close-up images of cats that feline lovers will savor. Ages 4%E2%80%938. (Aug.)