KITTY CAT, KITTY CAT, ARE YOU WAKING UP?

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. (Picture book. 3-6)