K is For Kitten [Hardcover]

Niki Clark Leopold (Author), Susan Jeffers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 2 and up

Rosie is just a scrawny alley kitten, but she's braver than she looks-and that's a good thing, because when a little girl brings her home, Rosie will meet the family dog, confront wild animals, be fooled by her reflection and find herself out on a limb. It will take some time for Rosie to get used to her new surroundings, but she eagerly laps it up, and her new family can't help loving her.

In this charming alphabet book, Niki Clark Leopold and Susan Jeffers join forces to introduce us to a most endearing kitten on her journey of discovery.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A day in the life of an irresistible lost and found kitten unfolds through the letters of the alphabet in Leopold's (Once I Was...) sophomore effort. "A is for Alley/ Where a kitten meowed./ Finally I found her,/ Tiny and loud." Jeffers's (the McDuff books) opening spread details the meeting: a framed panel depicts the curious girl, her mother and their dog leaning between two buildings; a close-up, opposite, reveals the green-eyed tabby surrounded by two pairs of feet (and paws). Enlarged, boldface letters kick off each couplet, which, combined with the illustrations, often convey a playful humor. For instance, for the letter Q, the top panel ("Q is for Quarrel./ Here comes a real cat") depicts a full-grown white cat approaching the kitten, Rosie, while the lower panel (`This is my garden,'/ Says Rosie, `you scat!' ") reveals the true reason for the cat's exit off the right-hand side of the page-Rosie stands between the dog's legs. The cat's antics are so engaging that readers might overlook a few faulty rhymes (limb/again, lives/inside); meanwhile, Jeffers's spot-on illustrations will appeal to animal lovers. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

reSchool-This alphabet book tells the story of Miss Rosie, a kitten rescued from an alley by a little girl. The simple rhyming text describes her adventures and learning experiences from lapping cream or falling into the pond to going to the vet. Each letter is given a four-line verse and highlighted in a larger font in uppercase. The illustrative word can be a noun, a verb, or "Oops" and "ZZzz's." Jeffers's gouache and colored-ink illustrations are enchanting. This feline is a soft, yellow tabby with big green eyes that just about jumps off the page into readers' arms so that they can feel its fur. There are many interesting points to discuss with children, such as the different insects on the "I" spread. The beauty of the book is in its simplicity and veracity. The little girl poised to lap the milk out of the saucer to teach the kitten is typical of a child. Better yet, with yawning girl, kitten, and dog, "Y is for Yawn" makes this a perfect bedtime story. The book is best for one-on-one reading, but the pictures are large enough to use a short rhyme or two in a storytime setting. Preschoolers will love this book.
Marlene Gawron, Orange County Library, Orlando, FL
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399235639
• ISBN-13: 978-0399235634
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #882,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a cute book, March 10, 2005

By 

Rebekah Lynn "rebekahthelynn" (Jackson, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: K is For Kitten (Hardcover)

This book has such wonderful pictures in it. My little girl loves to point to the kitten on each page. The story is well writen and you can just imagine a little girl taking home a little kitten. We read this book at least twice a day. Buy it!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great kitty book!, October 9, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: K is For Kitten (Hardcover)

This is the most unusual alphabet book I have come across. It is the story of one kitty, the one you see on the cover. That's it. One story about one kitty, not all kinds of animals, or all kinds of cats, just one kitty.

"A is for alley where a kitten meowed.
Finally I found, tiny and loud.

The first line shows a mom, a little girl, and a big ol' dog--maybe a black lab--looking down an alley. Line two shows a tiny kitten looking straight up while two pairs of feet and one leg stand at the edge of the illustration--sandals showing painted toes, red Mary Janes, and a long gray hairy leg with claws at the end of the toes.

"C is for Cream...."
And the little girl shows the kitty how to lap up milk. She names the kitty Miss Rosie.

"J is for Jump
Onto a sack
Over a barrel
to Amos's back."
Amos is the lab. The six pictures of this frolicksome, exuberant kitty are too precious!!

"Q is for Quarrel.
Here comes a real cat.
'This is my garden,'
says Rosie, 'you scat!'"
You should see the little kitten all hissy, standing between the dog's legs, boxing at the grown cat. Susan Jeffers, the illustrator, definitely knows her cats!

"R is for Rambunctious"
as Rosie climbs all over the poor dog, biting here, boxing there, hanging by the dog's ear there.

"Y is for Yawn" and all three yawn--the kitty, the little girl, and the big ol' dog. And of course, "Z is for ZZzz's" while all three sleep snuggled and cozy.

A must-have book for cat lovers, adult or child!

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, July 20, 2009

By 

E. Lockwood (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: K is For Kitten (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful and well written book. We have had it almost a year and my daughter who is 3 years old still loves it.