Cat Poems

Cat lovers will adore this sprightly collection of poems, which honor the mysteries of that ""Affectionate fellow Occasional grouch,'' the cat. Poems by such writers as Karla Kuskin, Valerie Worth, John Ciardi, Eleanor Farjeon and X. J. Kennedy are beautifully illustrated in black-and-white by Hyman, whose cats ``sleep fat and walk thin'' on orange-bordered pages. The poems tell of cats lost, cats loved and cats observedof the alley cat who ``loved/ (as much as she loved anthing at all)/ a garbage can,'' and Miss Tibbles who lies like a ``fur ring'' on a little girl's lap until she wonders, ``Is it me or Tibbles purring?'' Like a sketch book from a master artist, Hyman's drawings show cats from every angle; they paw at snowflakes, leave tracks ``like dark fern seed,'' roll in catnip, walk on ``on marshmallow paws,'' and they will beguile cat lovers of all ages. Ages 5-8. (April)