Kitty-cam

K-Gr 2--Readers follow Kitty through a day of pouncing, eating, washing, and playing. Kitty has a pet-cam attached to its head, and readers see everything the kitten sees. A goldfish is first terrified of Kitty, then relieved when Kitty loses interest. Crackers drop to the ground as smart Kitty nudges the table leg to make the box topple over, and a ball of yarn is just waiting to get all tangled up in. Then Kitty spies a mouse. Palatini and Yaccarino's collaboration will have readers observing the behavior of the predator hunting and at play through a video-cam. On each spread, readers are privy to the action on the verso and see what the kitty sees on the recto. An illustrated video frame and a record button on the right side pages show readers what they are seeing through a camera. Youngsters may need a few readings to pick up on the two viewpoints, as the sequencing of activities can be tricky to follow. Short sentences on each page support first reading experiences. Repetition of single words with a clear, bold typeface supports beginning word recognition. VERDICT For the newest readers, a glimpse of the world from a kitty's point of view.--Sarah Webb

A handful of mostly monosyllabic words conveys a cat's active day. Webcam on its head, the cat gets up to a variety of activities. Each spread switches from the cat's antics on the verso to what the camera captures on the recto. Vulnerable in an open fishbowl, a goldfish peers up and expresses surprise, submission, and fear. The cat grabs for the fish only to discover with dismay that water is "WET!" and to try vigorously to dispel the drops ("Shake. Shake. Shake") while the fish laughs smugly. Luckily, the cat has now spotted a box of cat treats atop a nearby table. The cat shakes the table, causing the box to topple and releasing a rain of fish-shaped kitty treats: "Yum! Yum! Yum! Yum! YUM." Washing, stretching, and yawning naturally follow. Then the cat spots a ball of "yarn? YARN!" Then it's time for a brief mouse chase. When the rodent hides in a hole in the wall, the cat proceeds to "Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait." Waiting isn't easy, and soon the cat falls asleep: "Kitty-Cam…FADE OUT. Good night, Kitty." Though some scenes might initially puzzle viewers, Yaccarino's signature stylized illustrations manage the changes of perspective quite deftly. Spotting the gradually diminishing battery images adds more excitement. Effectively combines a novel storytelling strategy and limited vocabulary. (Early reader. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.