Hide and Sleep - Hardcover

PreSchool-Brief texts printed in large, bold type and familiar situations characterize these titles. Bright colors and basic shapes define the few objects placed on each spread; while most of the items will be recognizable to toddlers, some of the illustrations are confusing. In What about Me?, Charlie, a toy cat, becomes jealous when the other animals play with a new kitten named Arthur until a little girl helps him understand that Arthur needs friends, and that he can be one of them. The placement of the animals in the beginning of the story makes it difficult to determine which creature is Charlie, though eventually it becomes clear. Hide and Sleep is told by a little girl. Knowing it's her bedtime, she hides-in the hamper, in the dog bed, behind the couch, and, finally, in her own bed. In one visually unclear sequence, children see an outline of the girl under her red-and-white checked blanket followed by a picture of legs on top of the bedcovers. The flesh-colored legs appear so flat against the patterned blanket that it is difficult to know what exactly is being viewed. Both books present universal situations and emotions. It's too bad the pictures don't do a better job supporting the texts.
Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.