Millicent and Meer

PreS-K—While playing in the sandbox in her backyard, Millicent is almost hit by a crate that drops out of the sky. Sounding out the letters on the label, M-e-e-r-k-a-t, she immediately believes that it contains a cat named Meer and proceeds to treat him as the pet she's always wanted. When he behaves in a very uncatlike manner, digging holes in the backyard and bringing the dirt inside, Milllicent's dad evicts him. A stray cat named Marvin befriends him and while running from a vicious dog one day, they come across a poster for the nearby Safari Park announcing the arrival of meerkats. Marvin, Millicent, Meer, and Dad finally figure out what Meer is and where he belongs. Millicent adopts Marvin and they visit Meer at the park every week thereafter. The computer-rendered illustrations are clear and humorous; after all, meerkats are pretty darned cute, but the story is flat and predictable. And, why wouldn't Dad notice that Meer is not a cat? The simple story line might appeal to very young children, but the illustrations are stronger than the plot.—Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID