British author/illustrator Emily Gravett's 10 Cats is a nearly wordless picture book full of bright hues and silly antics. On the first spread of this Kids Indie Next List title, readers meet the eponymous 10 cats: one snowy-white mother, and nine relatively courteous kittens against a white background. From "1 white cat" to "10 multicolored cats," though, the scene grows progressively more chaotic--and polychromatic. When Mama dozes off, her offspring begin to get into mischief with a series of red, yellow, and blue paint cans.
Gravett (Bear and Hare Share) is brilliant at using white space to paint a witty visual story. Her pencil and watercolor artwork is lovely, and should appeal to all ages. 10 Cats is more than fun and games, too. In the process of wreaking havoc, the playful kittens help readers learn about colors, patterns, and numbers. Gravett's cheery primary shades (which turn into secondaries as the bedlam advances) bring to mind the zany 1960 classic Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire. --Emilie Coulter, freelance writer and editor