Mr. Boffin

A variation on the tried-and-true ``the cat came back'' theme, this bouncy tale introduces grumpy Mr. Boffin and an unwanted feline that invades his house. Boffin ``hated one thing most and that / Was each and every kind of cat,'' but his grouchy frown and fierce glare don't deter one persistent orange tabby. The cat makes itself at home in Boffin's favorite chair, and although Boffin tosses it in the trash, drops it in the mail, and abandons it in a museum wrapped like an Egyptian mummy, it always returns. Of course, only when the cat vanishes does Boffin realize that he misses it, and when the pair reunite, Boffin's perma-frown turns upside-down. Schorsch's jaunty rhymes are perfectly on target, while Speir alternates full-page compositions with amoeba-shaped windows on the action (her green-eyed kitty is a show-stealer). Readers should be reminded that the kitty-torture here (a few of Boofin's methods are somewhat disturbing) is not to be attempted on the family pet; otherwise, this vibrant book offers a diverting take on a familiar refrain. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)