My Wild Cat

This quirky, personal send-up to cats and their unique traits features a “wild cat” who is anything but. Simler’s colorful, textured drawings provide a wryly comic counterpoint to her exaggerated descriptions of a cat as it stalks its prey. “He is a fierce carnivore,” states the text beside an image of a sleek black cat curled atop a flower pot. “Nothing escapes this vigilant observer” appears next to an image of the feline lying beneath a rug. Meanwhile, footnotes on most pages offer astonishing facts about kitties (some can reach speeds of 30 mph) and provide droll commentary on the unrealized potential of the book’s star. Translated from the French, this unusual book has just the right combination of facts, humor, and charm—plus a lovable, if not quite “fierce,” kitty. Ages 5–9. [em](Sept.) [/em]