"Can you hiss? / Can you scat? / Can you purr / like a cat?" Rhymed verses using patterned language pose questions to children about the various actions and noises they can make to imitate 13 familiar animals. Full-color pencil and watercolor paintings show preschoolers from diverse racial backgrounds engaged in lively imaginative play next to boxed insets containing realistic drawings of the animals they're pretending to be. Large, clear illustrations, an appealing topic and the inviting format make this a perfect book for group sharing. Honor Book, 1990 CCBC Caldecott Book Discussion. (Ages 2-5)

Thirteen rhyming, rollicking verses urge young readers to stretch their minds along with their bodies, thinking and acting like fish, birds, chicks, cows, or any other creature they like. Full-color illustrations.