A PIE WENT BY

Rich in alliteration and internal rhyme, Dunn's debut makes a surefire read-aloud for cumulative tale lovers. Balancing a luscious-looking cherry pie on his head, King Bing is off to pop the question to Queen Bea. Along the way he meets a cow, ants, a dog, a chick, and a fly, all of whom eye that pie and try various stratagems to get King Bing to bend over and lose the pie. Using bright, opaque colors, Santoro (Bears Are Curious, not reviewed, etc.) trails pop-eyed, solid- and hungry-looking animals behind the cheery, ski-nosed king, rewarding their close attendance at last when the king does bow and the pie splatters juicily over two pages. Yum. As the animals gather around, Bing and Bea come to an understanding (“You cook and I'll eat,” she proposes, “And we'll live happily after”) and stroll off toward the kitchen together. Diet-killing recipe included. (Picture book. 6-8)