In debut talent Harnett-s poignant and quietly humorous portrait of a community coming together, there-s a calico cat with a semi-permanent scowl on Blossom Street, and he gets around. -Every morning he visits Mr. Green at number three,- a fisherman who offers him a fresh fish straight from the skillet. Later, the cat poses for a still life painting for Miss Fernandez (who calls him Valentine), digs through a vegetable patch with a Sikh man and his son (who think of him as Tiberius), and watches birds beside redheaded twins with binoculars, among other destinations. After the cat settles in with Mrs. Murray at number 11, who -no one ever visits,- the neighbors take to the streets in search of the cat. Before long, Mrs. Murray-s home has become the center of a street whose residents- backgrounds and interests are as diverse as can be, but who share, among other things, a love for one particular cat. Mixing small vignettes with larger street scenes, Harnett nimbly juggles her large cast and the twin emotions of loneliness and contented companionship that she threads though this moving story. Ages 3-5. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 1 A neighborhood's orange and white cat with mismatched eyebrows has many names because he claims one at each house he visits on Blossom Street. From a young ballerina to bird-watchers to gardeners, the feline's multicultural family members seem unaware of one another's existence until he goes missing. He's discovered at the home of an ignored woman, where he has decided to take up permanent residence. Luckily for all, the entire clan is eager to visit him, bringing collaboration to the community and providing the former recluse with company. Warm colors and busy vignettes keep the pages engaging. VERDICT This variation on the favorite Six Dinner Sid by Inga Moore is a fun read-aloud that shows how cultural diversity coexists with emotional commonality. Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA