You're Not My Cat

``You're not my cat,'' says a girl to a fat, pampered-looking cat hanging on a tree limb outside her bedroom. But the text of Burns's picture book debut belies the starkness of the first sentence. The girl's next move--she lets the cat crawl under the covers--repudiates the idea that the cat is not hers. As the story progresses the heroine feeds the cat, calls him Gus and plays outdoors with him, and even sits with him in their secret place. But when the cat goes away, the girl stoutly declares she doesn't care about the cat--it's not hers--even while the numerous cat treats she has on hand indicate otherwise. The detailed, cheerful illustrations move jauntily along, reflecting the sassy, debonair attitude of Gus's owner and Gus's own sly sense of humor. An impressive first book. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)