ROSE AND RILEY

A three-chapter easy reader with the now predictable two anthropomorphized animal friends. The stories are predictable too, although that doesn’t mean they won’t be welcomed by children for whom they might be familiar. Rose is a small vole and Riley is a big groundhog. In “Rain,” Rose keeps her umbrella up all day, ready for rain, while Riley puts his away and enjoys the sunny day. When it does start to rain, Rose’s umbrella can’t keep both of them dry, but Riley comes up with a solution for next time. In “The Un-Birthday Party” Rose plans an un-birthday party so vividly that Riley wants one too, and then they figure out together that isn’t really such a good idea. When Rose, taking a page from Wemberly, worries about everything, Riley makes her a set of worry dolls out of toothpicks and thread—and they work. Yezerski’s soft pastels have just enough charm, energy and cuteness to match the gentle stories. (Easy reader. 5-8)