THE RING BEARER

An inevitable pendant to The Flower Girl (2001), this harmless rhymed ditty alerts little boys in that role to how it will go; there is even a dedication page for “a very special ring bearer” and a place to write in the name. The watercolors are friendly, rosy and pretty, and one might be especially fond of the first one, where the stalwart young ring bearer appears in his morning suit and bare feet, socks in hand. The bouncy verse takes him from, “This is the groom / who waits for his bride” down the aisle, past the gathered friends and the choir, to fulfill his mission and deliver both rings safely (the bride’s wearing gloves and the illustrations don’t show how that works) and then on to a garden reception and cake. Never has the phrase, “buy where needed” been more apt. (Picture book. 4-7)