Johnston’s latest is an illustrated rhyme celebrating the sticky wonder that is childhood. Two young siblings, briefly joined by another friend, spend the day in delightful pursuits, including eating (jelly, syrup and ice cream being the culprits), playground play, having pretend tea parties, hiding and seeking, mud-pie making and crafting cards for grandma. Sandwiched in between is a story on Mom’s lap and a nap. Young listeners will have no trouble recognizing some aspects of their day in this gentle tale of children who are loved no matter how sticky or dirty they become. Moore’s illustrations add to this feeling of familiarity; the characters are having so much fun readers will want to join right in. Number agreement issues plague the rhymes, as when the two children take a bath with their dad: “Sticky people, sticky people / Take a bubbly bath. / ‘Look who’s underneath that gunk!’ their / Scrubbing fathers laugh.” Still, this is certain to find a willing audience among those children who just can’t seem to stay clean. (Picture book. 3-6)
