MAYDAY'S CAT-TASTIC ESCAPADES

Abdulkarim presents a gentle picture book for young cat-lovers.

“Mayday, where are you?” the initially unseen narrator asks, while describing how her Bengal domestic cat is like other, larger cats, including a cheetah, a lynx, and an ocelot. In this way, the simple narrative takes readers on a tour of felines around the world, providing the names of each and their shared characteristics. The tale concludes when Mayday finally comes out of hiding, delighting the narrator. The rhyming text is brief yet engaging, and young readers will enjoy taking the time to savor the illustrations. Every page is filled with Alshalabi’s bright, colorful images detailing lush settings from forest to garden to meadow to shore, with occasional nods to specific cats’ habitats—a river for a fishing cat, snow-covered ground for the snow leopard. On a handful of pages, attentive young readers will be able to spot Mayday peeking out from behind objects. The well-rendered cats are cute and cuddly, bright-eyed and keen, yet recognizable as the species described. At the end is a helpful glossary of fun facts about each cat, plus a note about the author (with a picture of the real Mayday). The narrator, who appears at the end, is portrayed as a young girl with pale skin.

A charming, well-illustrated book for cat lovers that offers a simple tale, well told.