When you open the first page of this innovative and adorable lift-the-flaps book, you see ears peeking out from under a quilt. You’ll notice purring printed on the page, too, so you'll lift the quilt flap to see what's under there. "Huh?" says the bleary-eyed red and white kitty, nestled under the quilt with two other cats. (You obviously just woke them up.) "Hello. Who are YOU?" he asks. "Are you nice?" the blue kitty asks you. "You look nice," says the yellow one. "And STRONG. Could you turn a whole PAGE?"

Children who have gotten used to interacting with the Pigeon in Mo Willems's books will jump right into the conversation with these three personable cats, painted in primary colors in brush and ink. Preverbal children will just laugh and point at them rummaging through balls of yarn, sneaking into cardboard boxes (you lift the lids to find them), having a pillow fight on the sofa, and falling into the water with swimming fishes (from which you have to rescue them), before settling down for the night (and you tuck them in). If you don't have kitties at home, this is the next best thing.

Great as a toddler book, this will also greatly appeal to beginning readers. With your help, children can construct their own lift-the-flap pictures with hidden cats or other pets of their choice. Need another virtual pet? Play online with Maukie at www.broenink-art.nl/maukie2.swf, an irresistible purring, meowing black and white cat that responds every time you move the cursor.

THEMES: CATS. EASY READERS. PLAY. TOY AND MOVABLE BOOKS.