I FEEL A FOOT!

In this retelling of the familiar Sufi tale, a group of small animals meets a big new friend, one body part at a time. Turtle, Bat, Octopus, Bird and Goat are all lazing together in their hammock when an unusual sound rouses them. Turtle intrepidly leads their investigation, feeling a foot—another turtle’s, in fact; the others follow in turn, mistakenly feeling a wing, tentacle, goatee, etc., each imagining that the creature is a bigger version of itself. Young listeners will anticipate the unveiling of the full creature, a friendly elephant, who manages to fit, albeit just barely, into the hammock with the others. Rinck’s narrative is crisp and direct, and economical enough to be tackled by beginning readers, and van der Linden’s illustrations are superb. Each creature’s a collage of bold patterns and brilliant colors within distinct outlines. Done in acrylics against a matte, black background, they really pop, abetted by simple compositions. A winner. (Note: Publisher will be releasing a tactile edition for the blind.) (Picture book. 2-5)