THE MILKMAN

“Milkman jacket. Milkman hat. / Cranky pickup. Cranky cat.” “Milk truck waiting. Loading fast. / Ice cream. Milk. Eggs. Cat in last.” In staccato rhyme, this retro-art–styled story follows the milkman as he makes his morning rounds and helps neighbors. Visual clues create continuity and extend the concise rhyme, threading together one neighbor to the next: ice cream for a birthday party, toy for a new baby, finding a lost dog. The illustrations blend the charm of Robert McCloskey’s use of line, the humor of Archie comics and the whimsy of Bill Keane’s Family Circus. Background colors lighten from nighttime blue to pre-dawn grey to sun-washed orange, illuminating the scenes. Kids will be amazed at the old-fashioned way of milk delivery and cream in glass bottles, while parents and adults will be amused by this snapshot of another time. A glowing tribute to community and a delightful taste of Americana, delivered with style and a smile. (Picture book. 4-7)