CLEO AND CASPAR

The striped kitten from Cleo the Cat and Come Here, Cleo! has a good life in her new home—at least until she has to share it with someone new. Waking up from a nap, Cleo decides to investigate the strange sounds downstairs only to find that a new resident has arrived: Caspar, an exuberant puppy. Frightened by his barking, Cleo runs outside and climbs into a tree to hide. Her owner coaxes her down while Caspar is sleeping and Cleo finds that maybe instead of an interloper, Caspar is a new friend. Short rhyming sentences with a bouncy rhythm make this a perfect read-aloud selection. “Cleo wakes, / Cleo winks. / Cleo yawns, / Cleo blinks.” Bright acrylic paintings with boldly outlined shapes on oversized pages manage to convey emotion in child-friendly simplicity. Young readers will delight in Cleo’s continuing adventures while recognizing a familiar situation. (Picture book. 3-5)