What's Your Favorite Favorite?

Series fans know that Ballet Cat's thing is...ballet. In this book we learn that Goat's thing is magic-and that both children are dying to impress their grandma (and outdo each other). "Magic is Grandma's favorite," proclaims Goat, a.k.a. "The Great Goatini." "Ballet and magic are both her favorite," insists Ballet Cat, unsuccessfully channeling Pollyanna. Grandma does try to get away with that answer after their performances ("Uh, what? Oh. Both. They are both my favorite"), but the children aren't having it. She's in the hot seat, and it seems like one of the grandkids is destined for disappointment...but then Grandma creates a diversion with ice cream for everyone. Sure, it's a cop-out, but everyone goes home happy-even readers, who may themselves have played the "who's your favorite?" game without really wanting to know the answer. In the colorful illustrations, Ballet Cat is all girly-girl pink while Goat (whose gender isn't identified) is powder-blue. Grandma appears to be a small dog, and the specific relationships among them, refreshingly, are not spelled out in the text. elissa gershowitz