For Just One Day

For just one day, I'd like to be a busy, buzzing bumble...BEE

What child hasn't pretended to be a monkey, a bear, or a bumblebee? After imagining the fun of being a variety of animals from around the world, a sweet ending--and an attached mirror--remind little ones that the very best thing they can be is exactly who they are.

"Schoolchildren imagine themselves as chimps, whales and butterflies in this fantasy. The layout builds suspense, with ellipses preceding each page turn: 'If I could have a spiky spine/ I'd get to be a.../ porcupine!' thinks a girl as she brushes her unruly hair and then, in animal form, has luxurious spines combed by a patient bunny. The children's choices sometimes improve their lives, as when a nerdy boy walks past two teasing kids: 'For just one day, if I could dare,/ I'd be a growling grizzly.../ bear! I'd give my brother quite a scare,/ if I could be a grizzly bear.' (As a bear, he cups the bullies — who have turned into mice — in his paw.) Evoking 1970s illustration, Boutavant's (All Kinds of Families!) eccentric digital art features lithographs' grainy textures, fine lines and saturated colors; his doe-eyed, bobble-headed characters resemble the kids from the 'Love Is...' comic. Leuck (I Love My Pirate Papa) crafts bubbly if predictable verse; a mirror on the final page helps salvage a wordy conclusion about preferring 'to be/ that special someone, that is.../ me!' Up to age 4." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

What child hasn't pretended to be a monkey or a bear? After readers have the fun of being a variety of animals from around the world, a sweet ending--and an attached mirror--remind little ones that the very best thing they can be is themselves. Full color.