DEAR STRAY

A prickly kitten and the little girl who chooses him revel in being kindred spirits while they both learn how to live with their wild side.

When a little girl adopts a tigerish stray kitten from the shelter, her family isn't sure about her choice. But she can see that she and the kitten have lots in common as they both have a tendency to lash out when they're uncomfortable. The little girl does her best to be patient and give her kitten plenty of space, treating him the way she likes to be treated. And in doing so, somehow they figure out just the right ways to calm each other. A poignant text and evocative art make this story about two friends who share the heart of a tiger a standout.

Kirsten Hubbard also wrote the middle grade novel A Friendly Town That's Almost Always by the Ocean! (written as Kir Fox with M. Shelley Coats) and the young adult novels Watch the Sky, Race the Night, Wanderlove, and Like Mandarin. She is an author, artist, and freelance writer, and lives in Los Angeles.

Susan Gal has written and illustrated several picture books, including TWOgether, Day by Day, Into the Outdoors, Night Lights, and Please Take Me For a Walk. She began her illustration career as a poster and calendar artist. She then worked as an "actor with a pencil" for Disney Animation before returning to her native California to create fun and whimsical illustrations.