A Kitten Tale

Once there were four kittens who had never seen snow. The first three kittens are wary—snow is cold, its wet, it covers everything. As the seasons pass and winter begins to loom, the three skittish kittens worry. But the fourth kitten is getting excited. Snow will cover everything! “I cant wait!”

"Rohmann's (My Friend Rabbit) concise cat story shares the uncomplicated elegance and playful spirit of fellow Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes's Kitten's First Full Moon. Here, gray, brown and marmalade kittens dread the coming of winter, but a yellow tabby holds an opposing view. The first kitten shivers, ''We'll be cold!' 'Freezing cold!' said the second kitten. 'Cold to the tips of our tails!' said the third kitten. The fourth kitten said, 'I can't wait.'' With the arrival of spring, summer and fall, the three kittens express anxiety, while their optimistic littermate repeats, 'I can't wait.' Along with the dialogue, Rohmann winks at cat lovers with his observations of feline behavior. His inviting linocut illustrations make use of supple black outlines, grainy earth-tone hues and coal-black page borders. Knowing readers will smile at the kittens' lazy pastimes, like tapping at a leaf on the garden pond, grasping at a bug or ducking under a throw rug so that only a telltale rounded bump and swishy tail can be seen. When the dreaded snowflakes finally arrive, a wordless spread of the three curious naysayers watching their friend through a window — and a concluding image of all four tumbling in a snowdrift — confirm what wise readers suspected all along: there's good reason to look forward to the changing seasons. While this title has broad appeal, it is an especially apt choice for children who approach the unknown with fear rather than pleasure. Ages 3-6." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Eric Rohmann is a painter, printmaker, and fine bookmaker. His books for children include Time Flies, recipient of a Caldecott Honor Award, The Cinder-Eyed Cats, Pumpkinhead, Clara and Asha, and My Friend Rabbit, recipient of the Caldecott Medal. He lives in the Chicago area.