Cat Nights by Jane Manning Ages 3-6 32 pages Greenwillow July 2008 Hardcover     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.     web reviews   Kristin Gaulin/2008 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)