KITTEN RED, YELLOW, BLUE

Named for colors in a box of crayons, 16 kittens pair off with as many community workers and residents in this ingenious cousin to Matthew A.B.C. (2002) and Daisy 1, 2, 3 (2003). Catalanotto lines up Sophia the cat’s calico offspring and then sends them away wearing colored collars to help new owners in their own way. Red kitten looks on as Dave the red-hatted firefighter contemplates a dog stuck in a tree, for instance; Green kitten poses for Paul the landscaper’s verdant topiary; Orange kitten demonstrates a jump shot for Chelsea the basketball player; Turquoise kitten queasily accompanies Audrey the pilot; and, in a bit of cleverly indirect product placement, Brown kitten’s line of work involves delivering parcels. To brighten the color highlights, the artist renders each lively, humorous scene in neutral tones, and closes with a chromatic blast, as the kittens reunite, with confetti and identifying balloons, for a parental visit. Young fans of Martin’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1983, 1992) and its myriad cousins will love the expanded range of color choices here. (Picture book. 4-6)