Mother's Day is coming, and Stanley, the baby of the family, is having a very hard time finding just the right gift. But after a night of fretful dreams, Stanley comes up with an idea for a present that will last forever. Full color.

"French (The Thistle Princess) brings a fresh, warm delivery to a familiar premise. It is the day before Mother's Day, and Stanley, a winsome feline shown outfitted with overalls, rumpled whiskers and untied shoelaces, has yet to find a present. He questions his older siblings about their gifts and, when his brother reports that he will be giving flowers, Stanley rushes off to pick some; but by the time he returns, the petals have blown away. Further plans to duplicate his siblings' ideas fail until Stanley arrives at his own, very well-received solution: a cardboard box full of kisses. French's use of detail gives her story its individuality. When Stanley looks for money, for example, his piggy bank falls open, and 'it was empty except for one piece of a jigsaw puzzle. "Oh, no," said Stanley, and his whiskers quivered.' Kubick (Something's Coming!) evokes the sweetness of an earlier era with elements reminiscent of Mary Engelbreit: rounded, stubby bodies, props of traditional furniture and clothing, bright colors and inventive composition. Taking the place of Engelbreit's heavy patterning, though, is a healthy dose of white space and rhythmically deployed vignettes, so that the characters get all the attention they deserve. Ages 3-up. (Apr.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

French's simple tale rings true for little ones, reminding them that their love is truly the most precious gift of all. --KIRKUS REVIEWS

Mother's Day is tomorrow, and all of Stanley's siblings have something special to give to Mom. Everyone except Stanley, that is. Being the baby of the family, Stanley is having a very hard time finding just the right gift. But after a night of fretful dreams — when it's almost too late — Stanley comes up with an idea for a present that will last forever. With winsome illustrations by Dana Kubick, Vivian French's story of a memorable Mother's Day will resonate with children and parents all year long.