Betsy Lewin's story of a cat who zealously eats a meal and plays with a toy mouse before settling down for a nap, works beautifully when read aloud--preferably to preschoolers.
There are delicious sounds to say together ("Licky licky lick" and "Looky look! Mousy mouse!"). There are actions to try out (children will want to thump their feet and smack their mouths, just like the feline hero). There are body parts to identify such as Thumpy Feet's tongue, tail and active paws). There is even some detective work kids can do (is Thumpy Feet sleepy? Wide awake? How do you know?). Perfectly timed page-turns allow children to progress, with Thumpy Feet, from yawning to nodding to snoozing--before they, like the feline hero, wake up for the next toy (in Thumpy Feet's case, a ball of yarn that begs to be batted about).
Lewin's simple, repetitive text pairs well with her vivid, loose watercolors. The marmalade cat appears on a white background, which throws Thumpy Feet's orange-tinted wigglyness into sharp relief and allows young eyes to focus easily on key spots: Thumpy Feet's flickering tail, scrambling feet and myriad expressions. A lively and fun book for the younger set and their grown-ups to share. --Allie Jane Bruce, children's librarian, Bank Street College of Education