SHE’LL BE COMIN’ ’ROUND THE MOUNTAIN

Southwestern color, flavor, and rhythm, a cheery village of anthropomorphized animals, and a slight twist on the words of a traditional and well-loved song culminate in a rollicking surprise ending. Be warned, it is impossible not to sing these lyrics, as the pages open to a lizard in a cowboy hat playing the banjo. Squirrel’s reading in the tree behind him. That’s the clue. In every one of these adobe, violet, and crimson landscapes, folks are doing what needs to be done with a book close at hand. Raccoon hangs out clothes with a book in pocket along with the clothespins, Armadillo and Bear read while others bustle about preparing for the fiesta grande “when she comes.” Next to the last spread finds the whole population excitedly lined up outside “Six White Horses”—a splendid bookmobile where the librarian brandishes Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?, a previous title by this pair. Rich in storytime possibilities, to say nothing of offering a crystalline but unpreachy message of the joy and value in books. (Picture book. 3-7)