K-Gr 2-When a rainstorm spoils Catty Jane's day, her mother's best efforts fail to cheer her: she doesn't want to read, play games, or even eat cookies. However, soon her friends Piggy, Froggy, and Goose come to the rescue, brimming with ideas to celebrate the weather. The young feline can't stand getting wet and is afraid of thunder and lightning, but she ultimately succumbs and has a good time in spite of herself. The story conveys a good message about friendship, but does little, if anything, to address the main character's aversion to rain. The watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations seem a bit haphazard, but do a nice job of depicting a gloomy day, and the characters are fairly expressive.-Debbie Lewis, Alachua County Library District, FL (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Stuck indoors on a rainy day, water-averse Catty Jane (a childlike kitten) resists her mother's efforts to cheer her up. Piggy, Froggy, and Goose arrive, cheerful about the rain storm and happy to create a party with cookies and umbrellas and dancing for their despondent friend, with music to drown out the thunder. As each little animal raves about a wet-weather activity, Catty Jane begins to feel their joy. Once the rain has passed, she even decides to join them in some splashy fun outdoors. This picture book uses contrast effectively in the large-scale illustrations as well as the narrative. Brightening the expressive ink drawings, watercolors set vibrant umbrellas and clothing against gray skies, pavement, and puddles. Words and text flow well, offering a narrative with appealing animal characters whose emotions range from glum to jubilant. An engaging picture book for a rainy day.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist

Is there anything good about a rainy day? Catty Jane hates the rain. She thinks nothing will cheer her up once it starts raining. Mama offers to read her a book, to play a game with her... Mama even offers fresh-baked cookies! Nothing makes Catty Jane smile. Her friends Piggy, Froggy and Goose all tell her what they love about the rain. Piggy loves her bright umbrella. Froggy loves the raindrops splashing in the river. Goose is not even afraid of thunderstorms! Catty Jane remains adamant in her dislike of downpours... especially when there is thunder and lightning. Only a party with cookies, music and dancing takes her mind off the storm until the sun comes out. She still hates getting wet, but she loves a party! Gorbachev's signature scratchy watercolor-and-ink style is ideal for depicting a gray, rainy day. Jane and all her animal buddies are wide-eyed and expressive, making this tale of dislikes and fear appealingly friendly. Even the most dedicated hater of drippy days will be cheered by the concerted efforts of Catty Jane's coterie of friends. A good remedy for those rainy-day blues. (Picture book. 3-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The story of how Catty Jane's friends help her combat her fears about the rain is simply told with illustrations that amusingly amplify the emotions of the text. Gorbachev (How to Be Friends with a Dragon) is particularly good at showing the body language and facial expressions of his animal characters, who cavort inside and out during a storm. Catty Jane thinks rainy days are "gray. And dreary. And wet," and her feelings are dramatically rendered with pictures of the Richard Scarry-like orange kitten sitting on a sofa with a pillow on her head or slumped dejectedly at the table. Catty Jane's friends (a pig, goose, and frog) tumble into the house in their raingear as Mrs. Cat listens to them share their delight in rainy day activities with their parents. But Catty Jane is unconvinced until her friends cajole her into joining a "rainy-day party" inside her house. The illustrations are storybook old-fashioned-mothers even wear I Love Lucy-style bandanas and kerchiefs-but the loving families, joyful friends, and action-filled pages should reassure even the most fearful storm watchers. Ages 3-8. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Catty Jane hates everything about rain--until her friends throw her a "rainy-day party" during a thunderstorm. Piggy, Froggy, and Goose lift Catty Jane's spirits with cookies, umbrellas, and dancing. Gray-blue ink and watercolor illustrations convey the stormy weather outside, while soft pastel colors capture the feline's cozy home. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.