Read Anything Good Lately? (Millbrook Picture Books)
Grade 1-3-From "an atlas at the airport" to "a yoga book in the yard" and "the zodiac at  the zoo," a little girl moves playfully along through biography, comics, dictionary,  encyclopedia, magazine, poetry, quotations, recipes, and a variety of genres. Reading the "gossip  in the grocery line," "updates under an umbrella," and "whatever in the waiting room" are  somewhat looser variations on the theme but still acceptable. While relevant, choosing  "literature at the library" might perpetuate a stuffy stereotype were it not for the pleasant  cartoon illustration of a bean-bag chair, colorful shelves of books, and two little girls-one  reading, the other enjoying an active pet rodent. The bespectacled, voracious young reader is  supported by a loving family, complete with little brother, cat, and dog, as well as ethnically  diverse friends. The pages have white margins for text; balloon inserts are included in the art  that gives glimpses of characters reading in the featured settings. The final page offers 11 more  "kinds of reading" in search of a place. This book has more value as a catalyst than as an  alphabet book or enjoyable story. Though the text lends itself to reading aloud, the  illustrations deserve more time. A pleasant addition but not an essential purchase.Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WACopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.