Scamp

Young Scamp may look like a perfectly normal human baby, but don't be fooled: she considers herself a cat. That makes two felines in the household--one bewhiskered Hector and one pigtailed Scamp. They do everything together, even taking on the diabolical vacuum cleaner whenever it dares appear, and Scamp considers herself to be an exemplary cat. But strange things start happening, startling both her and Hector. She stands on two feet! She enjoys a bath! She even tries a spoon! Scamp feels like a traitor, but when Hector accidentally gets trapped outside in the rain, the blossoming baby realizes she can use her newfound powers for good. Maybe she doesn't have to be a person who is a cat; maybe she can simply be a cat person. The playful premise is a hoot, and Hector and Scamp are a truly precious pair. The inviting blue-and-pink-hued illustrations have a comforting, cozy quality about them, and comical details abound. An adorable ode to feline friends and a welcome reminder that growing up doesn't have to mean everything changes.

"Scamp's house has two cats: one black and one pink." But one of the felines is changing into a different sort of creature. As the book opens, a black cat and a human baby clad in pink striped pajamas sit side by side. "Hector and Scamp. Scamp and Hector." The two are clearly best friends and do all the same things together: groom themselves, roam on all fours, sharpen their claws (Scamp paws gently at the couch, while Hector scratches away at it), and attack the vacuum. One day, with a look of utter surprise while holding on to her crib rail, Scamp realizes that she can stand up ("Scamp was pretty sure cats didn't stand on two feet"). Later, it happens again as she props herself up with the table. Then at dinner she tries using a spoon, and at bathtime, Scamp finds herself enjoying the water. "Her whiskers drooped. She was a bad cat." When Hector gets left outside in the rain, however, Scamp's human abilities come in handy. Watercolor, colored pencil, and gouache artwork and clever endpapers put the spotlight on Scamp and Hector's friendship, highlighting how similar the two are in shape and size. The spare text plays against the illustrations with gentle humor, demonstrating that while change can be unnerving, true friendship will find a way to endure. Scamp is light-skinned with tiny dark pigtails. Perfectly adorable, especially for families with babies and felines of their own.(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.