Never Let Your Cat Make Lunch for You

Pebbles the cat is an excellent breakfast chef, contends the girl narrator of this comical word-to-the-wise. ""Sometimes there's cat hair in my eggs,"" she admits, as her fuzzy feline gives her an apologetic look. On the other hand, Pebbles makes great oatmeal (she ""loves putting milk in things""), and muffin-baking affords her a chance to nap next to a warm oven. Trouble is, even gourmet cats misunderstand human palates; Pebbles thoughtfully sneaks an anchovy into a homemade peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. First-time author Harris makes the most of a one-joke premise by celebrating Pebbles's improvisational ability (""She had to use her paws to spread the peanut butter and jelly because she can't hold a knife""). The slim plot gets a boost from Tilley (Riddle-icious), who envisions the narrator writing this mini-manifesto in her diary. In the antic watercolor illustrations, plump Pebbles exudes grandmotherly warmth with her frizz of staticky golden fur and her ruffled, heart-covered apron. Yet readers are bound to heed the title's earnest advice. Ages 4-7. (Oct.)