Cat

loved the illustrations which are made from “self-hardening clay,
acrylic paint and mixed-media collage.” They are vibrant in their natural
colors and intricate in their scenes. Children will be able to spend time
on each vignette to learn about how animals live during the winter,
whether above or below the snow.
It’s fun to try and find Kitten on each page, sometimes she’s out and
about and other times you have to search for her. This could easily be
made into a game during story time, “who finds Kitten first.”
The simple rhymes with each scene will also help young children identify
the creatures and what they are doing. ( )

A good introduction to animals, verbs, and vocabulary, with cute pictures and a cozy ending. Parents, expect to read this one repeatedly to your kids. ( )

Simply delightful! ( )

Kitten's Winter by Eugenie Fernandes
Fernandes finishes her quartet of season books on a high point with this story of Kitten's journey home. Running through the snow, sliding across the pond, slipping between the trees, Kitten passes numerous winter animals until she reaches her own cozy bed. Like Fernandes' other titles in this series, there is opportunity for endless discussion and seek and find fun in the pictures, looking for Kitten, discussing what different animals do in the winter, and find the subtle little elements in each spread - a blowing snowman's hat, an inquisitive bird, and more.

The artwork is a fascinating mixture of clay, collage, and acrylics, offering another opportunity for discussion and programming. Endless hours can be spent examining each page for all the different materials used and making your own kitten collages!

Verdict: The simple language in this last of the quartet is, as always, perfect for toddler storytimes, while the vibrant and complex art makes this a good book for discussion with older kids or for an example in art programming. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-155453-343-5; Published September 2011 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by publisher through Raab Associates; Purchased for the library