Not Last Night But the Night Before
PreSchool-Grade 1—Rhyming, repetitive text tells of a boy who reluctantly welcomes a parade of nursery-rhyme characters into his home. Everyone from the man in the moon to Little Miss Muffet bursts through the entryway wearing party clothes and carrying presents. Punch and Judy are nearly the last to show. To the little boy's surprise, they all begin to sing: "Happy Birthday to you,/Squashed tomatoes and stew,/Bread and butter in the gutter,/Happy birthday to you!" Colorful pencil and acrylic illustrations alternate between scallop-edged vignettes and full-bleed scenes rife with excitement. Preschoolers will enjoy the predictability of this tale, even if they don't recognize every character.—Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, COEND