CORNFIELD HIDE-AND-SEEK

On a too-hot day, Mattie, Li’l Will, Junie May, and Grampy one by one abandon their chores to hide in the cornfield. Mamaw can’t lure them out, so she and the neglected, sun-dazzled farm animals decide to hide on their own. Wondering where she’s got to, the rest of the clan follows her trail of butter beans around the house and yard. Everyone ends up back in the cornfield for a cool afternoon’s siesta. Morgan’s gangly, bright, down-home paintings seem wasted on Widman’s slight story. More seems to occur in the illustrations than in the text. Off in the distance, the cow climbs the barn, the crows steal Grampy’s hat and handkerchief, and Mamaw leads a parade of overheated farm animals as the family searches the house and orchard for her. The dropped g’s and cute southern dialect seem affected, and Grampy and Mamaw both appear much too young to have preteen grandchildren. This is a mixed bag at best—only worth a look if you need a slim, southern story. (Picture book. 3-6)