LITTLE BURRO

Beautifully written, and illustrated in warm pastel tones, this gentle story of a little burro’s discovery of the pleasures of a Southwestern desert lake is well-suited to preschool children, who will identify with the burro’s adventure.

Little Burro loves her home on the hillside of the canyon, but one day, the burro band begins to leave. Not knowing what is happening, Little Burro reluctantly and fearfully follows her mother and the band of burros away from the familiar canyon and her cozy birthplace, “a soft sandy spot beside a big round rock.” Step by step, the band leaves the canyon further behind, until they arrive at a lake. When Little Burro sees it for the first time, it looks “as big as the sky and just as blue.” Little Burro finds that she loves splashing in the water, and when it is time to go home, she doesn’t want to leave. Once home again in the canyon, she dreams of the lake, her “other favorite place.” The illustrations consist of large bordered pictures alternating with smaller vignettes and one full-page spread (of the lake); they include charming details, such as a pair of hummingbirds that hover around Little Burro and roost on her ears, as well as lively lizards, fish and frogs.

A characteristically empathetic and appealing nature story from the master of the form.