Round Like a Ball
PreSchool-Grade 2—This engaging, eco-friendly picture book opens with a child-friendly invitation to "play a guessing game." Through a series of short rhyming clues, children will join in as members of a family "unearth" the mysterious round object little by little. Ever-growing cutouts on attractive two-page spreads along with the clear, bold text provide the clues. One at a time, the sister, brother, mom, dad, aunt, uncle, grandparents, and even pets use the clues to make their own best guess. The concentric circles created by this peek-a-boo technique evolve into a beautiful circle of rainbow colors that complements the book's Earth-friendly message. Ernst's distinctive collage and cutout illustrations are painted with bold chunky strokes that will appeal to a young audience. A stunning foldout creates an eye-catching conclusion, making this title a great choice for a group read. Concluding with some simple suggestions for ways to take care of our planet, it is a great starting point for discussion. An engaging and appropriate selection for all libraries.—Piper Nyman, Brookmeade Elementary School, Nashville, TNCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.