THE NINE LIVES OF ARISTOTLE

A bold, young cat uses up his fund of lives at a great rate in this appealingly presented animal tale. Deciding that a white familiar might be a nice change, Bella Donna the witch brings Aristotle home to her comfy cottage—only to see him come plunging down the chimney after an exploration of the thatched roof (there’s one life gone), then shortly thereafter out of a tall tree into a rushing stream (two more). Other misadventures ensue, including close encounters with a train, a truck, and, repeatedly, with a fierce dog named Gripper. Graham illustrates this square-format chapter book with country scenes, done in fine lines and neutral toned washes, featuring a motherly witch and a small, generally surprised or confused looking feline. By the end, Gripper’s one life has passed, but Aristotle, having “lost” eight in growing up, is making his final one last. Infused with sentiment that never boils over into sentimentality, this should be popular with recent Easy Reader grads. (Fiction. 7-9)