Here Comes the Easter Cat

Underwood and Rueda deliver an Easter book with real personality in this story of a cat who’s got his eye on the Easter Bunny’s job. Underwood (The Quiet Book) structures the story as a conversation between Cat and a witty unseen narrator; Cat never speaks, but instead communicates his responses his facial expressions, body language, and the occasional placard. Rueda (Is It Big Or Is It Little?) does a marvelous job of capturing Cat’s rapidly changing emotions, from his pride at picking the perfect vehicle to deliver Easter gifts (a massive red motorcycle, naturally) to his horror at realizing that an Easter Cat’s busy schedule would mean no time for naps. It’s a highly appealing blend of slightly edgy humor and underlying sweetness, and the ending suggests that Santa better watch his back. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. (Jan.)