At first, a door left open in her home spells opportunity for a large, contented tabby cat, and indeed the world outside is full of wonders: teasing grasses, soft moss, and odiferous flowers. But as Nini wanders further from home and day turns to night, the outside world turns threatening, with strange noises and unfamiliar animals. Nini cowers in the hollow at the base of a tree, afraid to move, until her owners come looking for her with a flashlight. Anita Lobel’s luminous gouache and watercolor illustrations show wondrous details of the outside world, both beautiful and frightening. They also show that Nini hadn’t wandered very far from home, and the text ends with the suggestion that Nini might venture out again one day. (Ages 3–6)