The Cat Hat

Lena Larsen has looked everywhere for her missing cat, Bruno. When she sees her neighbor, a diligent game hunter, wearing a hat that distinctly resembles her pet, Lena is horrified. After plotting dire methods of revenge, the bereaved Lena absconds with the hat in the middle of the night in order to give it a proper burial. On a walk in town to cheer herself, Lena spies several identical cat hats in a shop window and discovers that the suspected fur is in fact 100% synthetic. Offbeat humor and quirky illustrations provide plenty of charm. Tall, gawky Lena has an unusual outlook on life: of the mix-up she comments, ``If you walk around in a hat that looks exactly like a missing Angora cat, in a way you've only yourself to blame.'' The resourceful girl's unflagging spirit pervades, and an unexpected twist at the end adds depth to this uncommon story. Ages 5-10. ( Oct. )