Violet Comes to Stay, with a story by Melanie Cecka, illus. by Emily Arnold McCully, was inspired by bestselling adult author Jan Karon's novels in the Mitford series (see Children's Bookshelf, Sept. 21). That series features a main character named Cynthia Coopersmith, who is an author and illustrator of children's books starring her cat, Violet. Karon handpicked Cecka and McCully to launch this first title in a planned series. Here, the title white kitten wreaks havoc in a nursery and a bakery ("Don't worry," says mother cat, "God has a plan for each of us") before finding the right home. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

K-Gr 2-An offshoot of Karon's adult "Mitford Years" series, this story is written by Cecka in the voice of Cynthia Coppersmith, a character in the series who writes stories about her cat. Violet is the last kitten of the litter, and her mother instructs her (as she has all her babies) to remember the mouse-catching rules: "Prowl silently. Plan your leap carefully. And pounce boldly." When Violet is adopted by a plant nursery owner and then by a bakery chef, she fails each time to remember the rules, causing havoc and resulting in a return to her mother. But the third time, the little white kitten happily discovers what "God has planned" for her. McCully's attractive, clear watercolor illustrations lend just the right small-town atmosphere to the story. A slight but sweet tale in a lovely package.-Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Three adorable kittens are born in a kitchen pantry. Their mother explains that their game playing is really training to kill mice, which is their job. Violet is the last kitten chosen, first by the plant nurseryman, then the bakery woman. But each time, Violet remembers Mom's mousing rules too late: prowl quietly, plan your leap carefully and pounce boldly. Both times when she's brought back, her mother tells her, "God has a plan for each of us." In her third home, a bookstore with a nice lady named Alice, Violet finally catches a mouse but lets it escape. "Mice are nuisances," comforts Alice, "but they're God's creatures, too. We'll find other ways of keeping them out." McCully's style of quick-sketch lines and realistic scenes are charming and convey the affectionate tone of the text. The title will be puzzling for people unfamiliar with Jan Karon's Mitford Years series: "Cynthia Coppersmith" is a main character in those novels, who writes and illustrates books about her cat, Violet. First of an intended series about Violet that will, no doubt, continue the pious messages. (Picture book. 4-7)