Felicity is a witch who can now turn into cats. Her friends warn her not to do it too often. She does not listen, and after the ninth time she is permanently a cat. She is happiest when she is a cat, though. ( )

Felicity was a witch with one desire: to try life as a cat! The idea of having whiskers, and being able to see in the dark, held great appeal for her, and when she finally(!) turned 263 - the age at which witches are allowed to transform themselves into felines - she lost no time, chanting: "Give me whiskers and moonlight sight, / as I become a cat tonight. / My witchy self will now be gone, / but I'll return by break of dawn!" Reveling in her nighttime explorations, Felicity began to lose sight of an important rule: that a witch could only turn herself into a cat nine times, before becoming stuck in feline form...

Apparently based upon an old Irish legend concerning witches and cats, Jane Manning's Cat Nights is an engagingly witchy tale that emphasizes the importance of being yourself - whoever you are meant to be. Manning's accompanying watercolor illustrations are an absolute delight, full of humor, and lots of quirky detail. I do wish that, in her brief afterword, the author had given her source for this Irish folk legend, but that is really my only criticism. Overall, an excellent title, one I would recommend to anyone looking for witchy picture-books in general, or Halloween-appropriate selections in particular. ( )

This book is perfect for reading around the time of Halloween. I like this book because it shows the relationship between humans and animals. This book would be appropriate for more younger audiences.

This story is about a witch who wants to be a cat and she ends up getting her wish. Kids of all ages will enjoy this fun, colorful, and funny illustrations.

Cat Nights by Jane Manning , based on the old belief that witches can turn themselves into cats, is a quirky, fun-filled story for young children.

Felicity witch has always dreamed of turning herself into a cat. When she gains her powers on her 263rd birthday, she does just that. She loves romping through the night in her cat form and waits anxiously each day to be able to transform again. However, changing forms comes with a caveat: it can only be done eight times before the witch is stuck in cat form.

The story is well-written, with a rhythm and pace that children are drawn to. A sense of adventure and a bit of playful suspense enhance the story, raising it to above-average status. Various font styles, sizes and colors create a sense of whimsy that would be lacking had a plainer text been used.

The illustrations are colorful, quirky and giggle-inducing. They enhance the story and help draw the reader into it more fully. The different sizes of illustrations and their placement upon the pages keep the look of the book fresh and interesting and add to the quirkiness of the story itself.

Billed as a Halloween book, this one should become a perennial favorite instead of being regulated to the holiday-only bookshelf.

Kristin Gaulin/2008 for curled up with a good kid's book ( )