Kitty and Me

Stott ( Too Much ) makes a successful first venture into the lift-the-flap format with these two inviting titles. Her lighthearted watercolors easily accommodate a series of flaps that reveal kitten or dog in various pursuits, so that only a very few words are needed to suggest an entire story. In Kitty , for example, a sister exhorts her brother to ``wake up''; raise the brother's blankets and find a cat curled beneath the bed. As in her previous works, Stott injects plenty of humor: the cat laps at a bowl of milk (``hungry kitty''); lift the flap and the cat has overturned the bowl. Puppy is a little less whimsical, but its hero cheerfully obeys commands (``Puppy, heel!'' ``Puppy, catch!'' etc.) and frolics heartily (``Big splash,'' reads the caption as the dog executes a gorgeous dive). Throughout, Stott varies her use of the flaps--her illustrations often expand across the reverse side of the flap, creating a feeling of motion. Beautifully suited to the needs of the suggested audience, these works are pedigreed entertainments. Ages 1-3. (May)