TEN LITTLE PUSSY CATS
by Jill Leman & illustrated by Martin Leman
A bouncy, attractive counting book that features the title characters as they whittle themselves from ten to one. Nimble quatrains spell out the cats' fates: ``6 little pussy cats/nosing round a hive/One got stung/and then there were . . . 5 little pussy cats/'' and so on. Others get a fright, spy a mouse, chase a bird, and off they go. A few of the cats come upon more vibrant circumstances—one gets a shock from a rather ghoulish jack-in-the- box, another tumbles off the mantelpiece. These antics add a shiver to the proceedings without stirring up nightmares. The illustrator serves up inquisitive felines, rendered in a painterly, faux- primitive style in rich tones and distinct patterns. For all its simplicity, this is a sophisticated book, a good introduction to cats and counting, suitable for a variety of reading levels. (Picture book. 5-8)