Gaspard and Lisa's Rainy Day (Gaspard and Lisa Books)
PreSchool-Grade 1-In this addition to the series, the animal friends spend a rainy vacation day at Lisa's grandmother's house playing tennis in the dining room and otherwise getting into trouble. When her father tells them to put together a puzzle, they take a poster from the wall, cut it apart, and reassemble it with tape-except for a missing piece. After rehanging the incomplete picture, Gaspard fills in the space on the wall with a colored marker. The children are terrified that the adults will be angry, but are saved, at least for the moment, as the sun is now shining, and they all go outside. Hallensleben's glorious, textured paintings depict a cheery, cozy environment full of adventure and fun, and the bright illustrations perfectly capture the characters' enthusiasm and inquisitiveness. Children will giggle at the dogs' adventures.Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WICopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.