There
PreSchool-Grade 1—This quiet gem isn't a fairy tale or a fable, though it has the magical and thoughtful qualities of both. A child asks, "When will I get There?" as she travels through fantastic landscapes, from the rounded edge of the globe through villages and cities, rainstorms, rainbows, and even up a ladder to the stars. Every spread is inventive and alluring. The paintings are the real star of this book, but the words—which are few—lend meaning and order to what would otherwise be an assortment of pictures held together only by the persistent presence of a fluffy-haired little girl. The words add up to a question so essential that it belongs to the realm of childhood: What is the future? "Will there be a sign that says, 'Here is There'?" "Will I be really BIG, There?" "Will I wear sensible shoes and say sensible things?" "Will I know how to count the stars and how to fix the broken things?"Thereis a book for rumination, a rare permission to ask the unanswerable questions. The thoughts that propel it and the images that illuminate it make this volume a small wonder for children.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.