What do you want, little friend?

Tragedy strikes when a young gray tabby, outfitted in a bright yellow top and orange pants, sets out to fly a kite and accidentally treads on a fly. "Oh no!" the cat exclaims, "Are you okay, little fly?" It doesn't look good for the insect, which is shown laying on its back, legs curled skyward. That doesn't stop the cat from trying to revive the fly, suggesting (with comical demonstrations) that the fly move, walk, and fly. Finally, it occurs to the cat to ask what the fly wants (a kiss), providing a sweet ending to this gently illustrated board book.

Whether this book is charming, profound, or insubstantial, it's a quick, sweet read. The overarching simplicity in storyline and artwork in this odd little book leaves one wondering if its message lies in what's rendered, what's implied, or what readers infer. Clean, uncluttered lines, spare, bright colors, and white backgrounds mirror the minimal detail of the plot. A playful, kite-flying kitten accidentally steps on a fly. Upset, the kitten asks, "Are you okay, little fly?" Over the course of the next nine double-page spreads, the kitten alternately exhorts the fly to "move like me," "walk like ants do," or "fly like the birds." After each suggestion, the kitten asks, "Don't you want to?" as the fly lies on its back, legs in the air, either dead or stunned. Finally, the kitten cups a hand to its ear and asks, "What are you saying, little fly?" In what may be a Buddhist nod to the sanctity of all life, a statement about the healing power of love or perhaps the importance of listening, or an unfortunate dismissal of the rules of hygiene, the kitten concludes, "Aaaah! You want a KISS!" After a laying on of lips, the reanimated fly flits off, as the kitten bids it, "Goodbye, little friend!" The net effect is arguably equal parts beguiling and puzzling. A slightly offbeat lesson in compassion. (Board book. 2-4) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.