So, it appears that Leda has thrown down the gauntlet.  Can I, a bona fide cat lover, let Leda’s former post go unanswered?  I think not.

While some in the world enjoy the vagaries of slobber and the sounds of toenails clicking on the tile floors, others of us prefer the comfort of purrs and oh-so-velvety fur.

And while dogs do loom large in the history of picture books, so too do our feline friends.

Here are some of my favorites.  What are some of yours?

SOPHIE’S SURPRISE, Shirley Holt and Lee Richardson

KITTEN’S FIRST FULL MOON, Kevin Henkes

ROTTEN RALPH, Jack Gantos

WILDERNESS CAT, Natalie Kinsey-Warnock, Mark Graham

CHARLIE ANDERSON, Barbara Abercrombie, Mark Graham

LUCKY RUSSELL, Brad Sneed

CAT HEAVEN, Cynthia Rylant

WHEN CATS DREAM, Dav Pilkey

KAT KONG, Dav Pilkey

MILLIONS OF CATS, Wanda Gag

WABI SABI, Mark Reibstein, Ed Young

SKIPPYJON JONES, Judy Schachner

Honorable mention goes to Tabby in the MR. PUTTER AND TABBY books, by Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard.

May your lives be filled with kittens!