k is for kitten: books

A couple weeks ago we reviewed the letter "k" and spent some time learning about kittens. Jonathan really liked this (as did Grace) since they like seeing the kittens down at their Nana's farm. So here are some of the books we enjoyed:





Kittens 

The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown

This classic Golden book is about two little kittens, Brush and Hush, who with their paint cans and brushes paint all the colors in the world. It's an excellent first concept book for toddlers and teaches color mixing. Jonathan is fascinated by color mixing and carried this book around with him for a couple days.

If You See a Kitten by John Butler

Super sweet book that goes through what one would say if one sees a particular animal. It's a fun book that really invites reader participation! Jonathan had fun imitating me as I read it aloud over lunch time. We said "Ahhh" over cuddly kittens and "Pee-eww!" at dirty pigs. I love Butler's warm illustrations-- it's a great book for sharing with your toddler.

The Little Kitten by Judy Dunn

This is a 1980's "classic" I remember reading as a child. The story and photographs tell the story of a little girl named Jenny and her little kitten Pickle. Pickle is a curious kitten who gets into several scrapes. The book follows kitten as she gets into trouble and Jenny repeatedly rescues her. It's a cute story that I read to Jonathan and Grace over lunchtime one day. Jonathan especially enjoyed looking at the photographs and told daddy about the book afterwards. I think he especially liked the book because his Nana has a new kitten. :)

Three Little Kittens by Paul Galdone*


This is a retelling of the classic nursery rhyme that Jonathan really enjoyed. Galdone's illustrations are so lively and full of interesting details that I found appealing as well. We sang the nursery rhyme as we read the book and Jonathan liked laughing at the naughty kittens. Really, this is a wonderful version of the rhyme and is worth adding to your home library!

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes*

Oh my, Jonathan just loved this Caldecott winner! It's a story about a little kitten who mistakes the moon for a bowl of milk. The kitten does all he can to try to obtain the bowl of milk, resulting in several mishaps. But after all of his misadventures finds a bowl of milk waiting on the porch. It's such a simple story told in shaded black and white illustrations. Jonathan loved this book and requested it several times right before bed. We'll be buying this one for sure!

The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter

I remember enjoying Beatrix Potter's stories when I was a child and have a vague memory of liking Tom Kitten. It's a simple tale of three little kittens who are dressed in their best clothes only to lose their clothes while playing outside. Unfortunately, it didn't hold Jonathan's attention at age 2 1/2. I think it would be better suited for preschool aged children, so we'll try it again when he's a bit older.

That's Not my Kitten by Fiona Watt

This was a book I checked out for Grace since she's really enjoying touchy-feely books lately. It's a simple book (like the rest in the series) that shows different kittens saying "that's not my kitten" and giving a reason why until the last page shows the correct kitten. . Each page has a texture to feel and Grace enjoyed patting the "kitties" as much as I thought she would. It's a great series for young toddlers.







*Denotes a favorite that we highly recommend!