COUNTRY FAIR

Cooper's first children's book creates a quirky, engaging look at the sights, sounds, and scents of a country fair. Whimsical watercolors are all color and squiggle--sometimes Cooper even labels the scenery (as in the first spread, where the words ""blue hill"" appear on same). The crisp, hand-lettered text invites interactive read-alouds; some of it forms squares around the object of discussion, or circles around like a curlicued pig's tail, or zigs like the flight of a yellow jacket. The language is funny and clever: Just-sheared sheep are ""clean and pink and naked, as if they've just stepped out of the shower and can't find their towels."" Pies are judged, corn is shucked, a blue ribbon gets eaten by the winning cow, and then everything gets cleaned up; the field is empty again. For city children, for country children--fun.