I'm Not Going to Chase the Cat Today!

Every dog has its day--and this one's a dilly. Getting up from his nap (taken in a bed in his own fully appointed room), a sportily dressed dog confidently announces, ""I don't want to chase the cat today!"" That most uncharacteristic statement gets the cat to thinking: ""Now that you mention it I don't want to chase the mouse today,"" she adds, turning a cartwheel. Before long, the mouse is in on the act, vowing not to chase the lady of the house. And ""because nobody's chasing nobody today,"" the whole group celebrates by sharing juice and cake. Making her picture-book debut, actress and children's performer Harper adapts this chipper rhyming ditty from an original song found on her most recent recording, Rhythm in My Shoes. The story is buoyed by a gentle silliness and features an almost-familiar scenario that allows young readers a knowing enjoyment of the fun. DuPont, Harper's sister and also a newcomer to children's books, provides ink-and-watercolor compositions that benefit from long, lean lines and a crisp palette. Her overly anthropomorphic animals and snappy sense of movement across the pages add to the goofy good times. Ages 3-8. (May)