Easy Peasy!

A wide-eyed cat (with a mouse sidekick) is determined to reach a russet-colored fish sitting on top of a high kitchen cupboard. Wreaking household havoc in the process, Kitty jumps onto higher and higher objects to reach the fish, reassuring herself with each progressively tougher leap that ""it's easy peasy!"" While Jennings (The Dog Who Found Christmas) has come up with a winning catchphrase (some adults may find it almost too memorable), the story gets off to a slow start--the central action could easily start three pages earlier than it does. But momentum builds quickly once Kitty starts jumping, and Jennings further engages the audience by asking, ""What should she do?"" every time Kitty finds that the fish remains out of reach. Linch's (This and That) soft-edged paper collages, meanwhile, captivate from the very first page. Rendered in richly colored and stylishly patterned chunky shapes, each vignette is full of comic energy and movement. Playful and varying perspectives also help make every one of Kitty's leaps come alive. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)