ON-THE-GO TIME

Self-help for toddlers when running errands gets tough.

An exuberant mother motivates her young children to prepare for a day out on the run. Mom believes preparation is key: Her little ones must use the potty, get a snack and buckle their car seats before their trip to the grocery store. When sugary snacks prove too tempting, the parent's clear instructions simmer down the youngsters' fuss before it becomes a full-blown temper tantrum. “If you're sad or mad / take deep breathes. / Ready, set? / B-r-e-a-t-h-e / in and out / and in again./ That's how you / calm down.” With the youngsters' emotions under control, a quick trip to the library is in order. There's wisdom in the suggestions provided both in the text and lengthy parent's note (as when Mom involves them as SUPER HELPERS in the process). Unfortunately, the preachy dialogue makes Mom's agenda clear. “Listen, follow along, / and even lend a hand!” The colors are bright and the design faintly retro, characters' expressions are fixed in wooden smiles, and there's little visually to extend the storyline.

Too much didacticism to go down smooth. (Board book. 2-4)