Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
A sleepy kitten lies abed as Mother Cat admonishes her to get up and get ready for school. As Mother calls from another room, the reader sees the kitten slowly awakening and then standing on her head, practicing her purr, searching for clothing, putting on socks, finding shoes, playing with her dish and chasing a mouse. The repentant kitten is shown in the last frame hugging her mother and apologizing for being so slow. The repetitious rhyming text lacks the visual animation of Martin’s other works, but young children will likely enjoy the charming pastel pictures of the gray kitten and her antics. They may identify with some of the distractions of getting started with the day. 2008, Marshall Cavendish Children, $14.99. Ages 2 to 5.

Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Kitty Cat’s mother is trying to rouse her appealing anthropomorphic feline child to get ready for school. On each double-page spread, her repeated “Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat” and Kitty Cat’s answer are a rhymed couplet. Each turn of the page has Kitty Cat’s mother asking the kitten about everything from cleaning her fur and getting dressed to eating. The youngster consistently answers “Not yet.” Kitty Cat, like so many youngsters, always has something else to do first, but her patient mother loves her in spite of it all. The very brief text is really a take-off point for Bryant’s delightful illustrations in watercolors and colored pencils. They create typical child behavior shown by a charming kitten any cat lover would appreciate. A frisky mouse is a constant companion in the visual tale, as we are treated to rumpled bedclothes, scattered clothes, and an upset goldfish along with a patient mother. Very large blue type is used for the verbal exchanges. A heart-warming hug is the satisfying end. 2008, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, $14.99. Ages 3 to 6.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2008 (Vol. 76, No. 16))
Charming and forgettable, this slight collaboration has undeniable appeal but little real substance. Kitty Cat is an adorable, anthropomorphized version of a poky preschooler. She keeps her mother waiting while she shrugs off sleep, practices her purr, misplaces her clothing and chases a mischievous mouse. Watercolor-and-colored pencil illustrations focus on the endearing grey-and-white kitten while including plenty of pretty patterns and interesting textures. To Bryant's credit, her illustrations succeed in being engaging without being excessively cute or overly saccharine. The rhyming couplets, unfortunately, do not fare as well. The sing-song rhythm and repeated phrases get tiresome despite the brevity of the text. Some rhymes seem forced (what exactly is "a sleepy buttercup"?), though others nicely capture the playfulness of a young child. Given the perennial allure of cats as characters and of Martin's reputation, odds are good this will find a wide audience. Young listeners may enjoy hearing it read through once, but they're more likely to pore over the pictures than request repeat readings. Adequate but uninspired. 2008, Marshall Cavendish, 24p, $14.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 3 to 6. © 2008 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.