Watch Your Tongue, Cecily Beasley
In a distinctly Seussian meter, this story tells a cautionary tale of what befalls rude little Cecily when she ignores a friend’s warning that a stuck-out tongue might get stuck that way. What happens in Cecily’s case is that a bird builds a nest and lays her eggs on Cecily’s tongue, and the doctor declares the eggs need to hatch before he can help Cecily. When hatchlings do emerge, their very first act is to stick out their tongues at Cecily. Lesson learned. The bouncing rhythm of the text is well matched by Davis’ dynamic, detailed watercolor illustrations that add energy and laughs to the lessons. Cecily’s final solution to the trouble she has caused is a hand-lettered sign that moves the story’s main text into the artwork itself. An easy read-aloud that will result in lots of participation from the audience. Preschool-Grade 2. --Francisca Goldsmith