REALLY TRULY BINGO

A lonesome tot plus a friendly pooch add up to a barrelful of mischief. When her preoccupied mother encourages her to “use your imagination,” Bea complies with gusto. Kvasnosky seamlessly draws readers into Bea’s vivid fantasy play, where she meets a talking dog aptly named Bingo. Together girl and canine dig in the mud and frolic through the sprinkler, indulging in all things children do when mom is not looking. It isn’t until the tale’s conclusion, when her mother discovers the extent of Bea’s antics, that readers learn definitively that Bingo exists solely in Bea’s imagination. The winsome tale illuminates the fast-disappearing art of imaginative outdoor play for the current generation of children. The verdant gouache illustrations beckon to readers, sure to inspire them to explore the sights, sounds, smells and perhaps imaginary friends waiting outside their doors. (Picture book. 2-6)