Common Sense Note
Uncluttered and direct, this tale shares with old favorites such as The Carrot Seed and Harold and the Purple Crayon the strength and durability of a story with one character and a single focus. Children who connect with Kitten and her dilemma will want to return to this book again and again.
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Marigny Dupuy
This is prolific author/illustrator Kevin Henkes's 34th book for children. Known for his brightly colored, humorous picture books such as the Caldecott Honor Book, Lily's Purple Plastic Purse and the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wemberley Worried, Henkes uses a new style with Kitten's First Full Moon. In black and white with muted grays, the pictures are reminiscent of a classic 1940's film. This nostalgic atmosphere, combined with the simplicity and subtle emotional power of the story, make for a charming and memorable tale.
From the book:
"It was Kitten's first full moon.
When she saw it, she thought,
There's a little bowl of milk in the sky.
And she wanted it.
So she closed her eyes
and stretched her neck
and opened her mouth and licked.
But Kitten only ended up
with a bug on her tongue
Poor Kitten!
Plot Summary:
Sitting on the stairs, little Kitten sees what she takes to be a small bowl of milk in the night sky, but try as she might, she cannot get to it. She reaches and chases the bowl, but it always eludes her. Climbing up a tree, she sees below what she thinks is an even bigger bowl of milk. Of course, it is the moon and she gets soaking wet when she jumps into its reflection on the water. A real bowl of milk left for her on the porch gives the story a happy ending.
Related Books:
Other Picture Books by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum
Owen's Marshmallow Chick
Lily's Purple Plastic Purse
Julius, the Baby of the World
Wemberley Worried
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