MASQUERADE PARTY

Put a party spin on a topic even young children have heard a lot about lately: masks.

A hat and mask over the eyes is just enough disguise for nine smiling, costumed animals. A question is posed on the verso of each spread: “Who is…?” It’s answered by lifting the mask on the right: “It is….” The cover flap, a Little Red Riding Hood mask, hides “the wicked wolf.” Other pairings are less obviously linked. A “fun firefighter” turns out to be a “brave bear.” Lift the “plucky pirate” mask to find a “playful pig.” Eyes, nose, and mouth are clearly visible in each illustration, with a costume prop in the paw of the hidden animal. The wolf on the final spread proves to be Little Red Riding Hood, completing the story circle. Descriptive alliteration on every page uses sophisticated vocabulary. Little Red, the only human character, is White with blond braids. Animal stereotypes creep in, some based on folklore tropes. The fox is disguised as a “sly sorcerer”—signaled, in a deeply unfortunate Orientalist choice, with a turban—but the bunny is “cuddly,” and the dog is “handsome” and “daring.” Use with supervision lest the eye holes on the oversized flaps rip when grasped by eager little fingers.

Clever and reasonably sturdy but with a significant misstep.