OLD BLUE BUGGY

Parting with a much-loved buggy shares the wealth. As a baby, Henry would lie on his back, watching the clouds while his mother pushed him along. Her tune kept pace: “Big buggy blue, blue buggy blue, / Be-bop-a, blue-bop-a, buggy-bop-a-blue.” As Henry grew older, it could carry him and a friend, groceries, dry cleaning, or library books. As Henry grew into a small boy, Blue Buggy served as his rocket ship, his boat, and his stagecoach. When it sat idle for too long, Henry and his mother agreed it was time to find a new owner, but no one needed him. With sad hearts, they left Blue Buggy on the curb to be hauled off with the trash. Softly, they sang the familiar Blue Buggy song. Days later, hearing the familiar sounds of Blue Buggy in the park, Henry and his mother find someone has use for it after all. Energetic and colorful drawings with some mixed-media elements convey a sense of movement and growth. Varied layouts and graphic black-and-white images lead the eye from one illustration to the next. A good ride. (Picture book. 4-8)