OLLIE

Dunrea’s group of cleanly attractive mini-volumes featuring gosling friends Gossie and Gertie grows by two. Gossie and Gertie gain a new friend in Ollie, who at first appears as just an egg, hilariously introduced in deadpan prose: “This is Ollie.” Ollie stubbornly refuses to come out, despite Gossie and Gertie’s exhortations. In true toddler fashion, as soon as Gossie and Gertie tell Ollie NOT to come out, he at last emerges. Ollie’s story continues in Ollie the Stomper (ISBN 0-619-33830-2), when he follows Gossie and Gertie around and wishes he had boots like theirs, just as little siblings have always done. Dunrea’s keen awareness of young children’s concerns and quirks translates into charmingly simple illustrations and text. Plenty of white space reinforces the simplicity and keeps the focus on the appealing goslings; the large typeface and small trim size make these volumes especially appropriate for the youngest audience. (Picture book. 2-4)