What the Ladybug Heard
PreSchool-Grade 1—Everyone in the barnyard has something to say, except for the ladybug, who is a silent observer. But one night, when she overhears two burglars plotting to steal the prized cow, she knows that she must speak up. She not only does, but she also devises a plan to trick the thieves, save the cow, and restore tranquility to the barnyard. Once again, the author ofThe Gruffalo(Dial, 1999) has created a tiny heroine who outsmarts a much larger foe. The playful rhyming text flows without stumbling and offers the opportunity to demonstrate one's finest animal sounds. Monk's illustrations incorporate paint and collage to depict boldly caricatured participants in farmyard tableaux. Hidden within the farcical story is a message about language and the power of saying the right thing; the perfect word (or woof) at just the right moment can indeed save the day.—Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA(c) Copyright 2010.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.