Reviews

An elderly widow and a scrawny, abandoned kitten provide each other with love and comfort in this gentle picture book. Lonely after her husband's death, Mrs. Katz appreciates the frequent visits from her young neighbor Larnel and his mother. Things begin to look particularly bright when the boy offers the runt of a litter of kittens to Mrs. Katz. Larnel helps the old woman care for her new tail-less pet--``Tush''--and in return Mrs. Katz shares freshly baked kugel and stories of her Polish homeland and her Jewish heritage. Tackling some of the same themes as in her earlier Chicken Sunday , Polacco again offers prose rich with images of the struggles and triumphs of her immigrant ancestors; Mrs. Katz's experiences are nicely paralleled by Larnel's knowledge of his own African American family's difficulties. Unfortunately, passages in the latter part of the book that explain the Passover holiday seem tacked on and a bit heavy in their message. Polacco's vibrant pencil and wash illustrations evoke the ethnic flavor and human warmth that are central to the story. The overall effect is a vivid portrait of characters who are hopeful, proud and compassionate. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

"Polacco's bright double-spread watercolor paintings are exuberant...an elemental picture of human family."
--"Booklist,"
An American Bookseller Pick of the Lists.

K-Gr 3-- A warm, lovingly told story about an intergenerational relationship. It is the beginning of a long friendship between Mrs. Katz, widowed, childless, and lonely, and her young African-American neighbor, Larnel, when he presents her with a scraggly kitten. On his daily visit to the elderly woman and her pet, they talk about Mrs. Katz's husband, her arrival in the United States from Poland, and the similar experiences of Jews and African-Americans. Larnel accompanies her to say kaddish at her husband's grave, and attends her Passover seder. When Tush has kittens, Mrs. Katz feels fulfilled, a bubee (grandmother) at last. The final illustration shows an adult Larnel with Mrs. Katz holding his baby, and the story ends with him and his family visiting the woman's grave. Mrs. Katz's dialogue reflects her Yiddish background without being obtrusive. The charcoal and watercolor illustrations are in Polacco's usual style, with large areas of white space emphasizing the characters rather than their surroundings. The character portrayals are vivid and lively, with a hint of humor. Polacco pays careful attention to detail, even to the age blemishes on Mrs. Katz's hands. A fine book for group or individual sharing. --Susan Giffard, Englewood Public Library, NJ