JEOFFRY'S CHRISTMAS

Despite its graceful, poetic imagery ("There in shadow/ the perfect tree/ that grows the blue/ and green of sea"), Bailey's debut tale bogs down with lines that don't scan, starting with the opening couplet ("The sun is shining on the snow./ We crunch across the bent meadow"). Sayles's (Five Little Kittens) dreamy rose- and orange-tinted vistas, however, carry the story about a cat that helps a farmer find the perfect tree and then travels in Santa's sleigh to bring a Christmas feast to all the animals. While the feline hero is somewhat anthropomorphized, cat lovers may lap this up. Ages 4-8. (Oct.)