A Year with Marmalade

PreS-Gr 1—Ella and Maddy are best friends. When Maddy's family has to go away for a year, she asks Ella to take care of her cat until they return. Ella tries, but all through the fall days, Marmalade is shy and doesn't join Ella as she plays in the leaves, picks apples, and stomps through puddles. Winter comes, and one day Ella wakes up with warm feet: Marmalade is sitting on them. From then on, they enjoy the seasons together: cuddling by the fire, planting flowers in the spring, going to the beach in the summer, until, suddenly, it is fall again and Maddy comes home. Together all three joyfully scrunch the leaves and stomp in the puddles, and Ella's dad builds a special cat flap in the fence between their two houses-big enough for Marmalade (and Ella and Maddy). The cartoon illustrations are primarily outlined in black ink, with touches of color, which makes them stand out, detailing well the special features of each season and the growing friendship between Ella and the feline. The text uses different font sizes and goes up and around and down with impunity as it tells the story, adding an attractive element to the book. Although small, this book could be used for storytimes on friendship or seasons or cats, as well as for a quiet lap-read.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA