Many of the happiest playtime experiences of children are associated with their kittens. They delight to dress the frolicsome yet docile little creatures in doll gowns and jackets, and give them long rides in doll carriages, and make them sit at tiny tables and share in tea parties, then put them to bed and perhaps give them water medicine for an imaginary ill. Can there be a more normal and healthy pastime for a little child than this? In one respect kittens take precedence over dolls. They are _alive_. They _must_ be treated kindly. They will not bear the abuse and neglect given to many beautiful dolls. They demand attention and companionship, and they return a real devotion for kindness and care. Therefore we love them, and especially do our children love them and delight in stories or pictures of them. Those of us who have had glimpses of the child heart and mind know that stories of kittens and queens and parties yield much the same delight to the little reader of juvenile fiction, as do adventure and romance to the grown-up reader. This simple story about the Queen of the Kitten Country and the party which she gives in her palace, ought, therefore, to meet one of the most important requirements for a higher first grade school Reader, that of a strong appeal to the child in subject matter and illustration. With the interest keenly aroused the difficulties in learning to read are mastered quickly and with pleasure. However, the following brief suggestions are given to assist any teacher who may need them in making use of the book to the greatest advantage for her class. SUGGESTIONS Before the reading of the book is begun there might well be one or two story-telling periods. Each child should be encouraged to tell a story, from his own experience if possible, about a kitten, or a party, or to give his idea of a queen. The children should be assisted in recalling and in learning Mother Goose rhymes and other verses about cats. Give them several blackboard drawing lessons showing cats in different positions and costumes. A frieze of kittens may be started at the top of the blackboard, adding each new kitten character to the row as the story progresses. This frieze will furnish material for several varieties of “busy work.” A valuable exercise to stimulate thought and facility of expression is to assign a short page for a child to read silently, which he later gives aloud in his own words before the teacher and class.