reS-Gr 1-In the first of this book's two stories, Trouble the cat spills paints, breaks dishes, and scatters paper all over the house. Despite his behavior, his owner can't help but love him. Next, he has difficulty distinguishing his own reflection from that of another cat. These delightful tales are clever and funny. Alternating between prose and rhyme, the stories are rhythmic without conforming to a particular style or format: "Trouble gets into lots of trouble! He just can't help it./Pots clatter./Papers scatter./Plates shatter./Paints splatter./But Emily loves trouble. She just can't help it!" Stephenson's illustrations offer humorous depictions of the havoc created by this mischievous feline. The soft colors are, however, a bit flat, and seem to mute the playfulness with an old-fashioned sensibility. Still, the book is a pleasurable read and is sure to tickle the funny bones of beginning readers.
Louie Lahana, New York City Public Schools
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