CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER – 2005
Kevin Henkes, author and illustrator
New York: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, 2004
29 pp
infant +
interests: animals, cats, moon
Little Kitten sees her very first full moon in the sky and thinks it’s a bowl of milk. After many unsuccessful attempts to reach it, tired, wet and hungry, Kitten returns to her porch to find a bowl of milk waiting for her. Lucky Kitten!
Bold and simple black and white illustrations, and not many words per page. Suitable to read to babies, but has enough humour for 3 or even 4 year olds. (The look on Kitten’s face after she accidentally eats a bug, or falls in the pond will certainly make them giggle.)
The story too is very simple: Kitten sees moon, Kitten wants moon, Kitten tries to get moon. Young children will find it very satisfying, as they know the moon isn’t a bowl of milk! Gentle repetition of “Poor Kitten!” gives way in the end to “Lucky Kitten!” as she falls asleep after her milk.
Rarest Kind of Best 