Princess Super Kitty (review)

Maggie has taken on a new identity: "I have ears and a tail. Because today I am a kitty!" And kitty she determinedly is, responding to all human queries with "Meow" and eating and drinking from a dish. As her play continues, she transforms herself again into a "Super Kitty" ("When Mom says, 'Super Kitty, can you bring me the baby's bottle?' I say, 'Yes!' And zoom there in zero seconds"), to a Princess Super Kitty ("Princess Super Kitties do not open jars. They do royal things. With jewels"), and to (at bathtime) a "Water Lily Hula Porpoise Princess Super Kitty of the Sea." Portis' concise text works smoothly in tandem with her precise illustrations to present an amusing and believable look at a young girl's perspective on imaginative play. When Maggie is "Super Kitty," for example, she imagines that "Super Kitties can see things with their superstrong eyes," which translates visually into her being able to see her brother's underpants through his clothing; her proclamation that "a Super Princess Kitty is someone you obey" is accompanied by an illustration showing her brother submissively kneeling as he ceremonially offers her a glue stick. The well-composed spreads highlight the dot-eyed, black-haired kitty-girl cavorting her way through a candy-colored backdrop of domestic tidiness, while heavy, crayon-like black outlines help keep the art from becoming too saccharine. The kid-centered topic, brevity of the story, and bold, clear illustrations make this an excellent and useful addition to storytime lineups as well as a possible inspiration for some fresh new dress-up options.