Stella is a cat who dances for her own joy and to the delight of the human children who love her. As she grows up, Stella stops her dance, but gives birth to kittens who love to dance.

As a cat person, you can expect me to be biased about a cat book. However, we've all seen the "cat slips away, has kittens" story done again and again; and since the illustrations aren't by Anne Mortimor or Nicole Bayley or some other fabulous feline artist, I was prepared to give this one a quick glance and put it aside.

Instead I found myself charmed and have reread it at least twice. The fact that Stella is a cat is incidental; the real theme is growing and changing, continuity, and what one generation can give another. The prose is simple but lyrical; this could be read to a two year old yet will resonate more with older children and adults.

And resonate it does. This is my favorite cat book since _The Grannyman_ (which I highly recommend) and I think I'll read it at least one more time before I surrender it to the circulating shelf. I'll also be pointing it out to parents and grandparents, whether or not they like cats.