STARRY SAFARI

This adventurous romp through the before-bedtime jungle is accentuated by fantastic sound effects: “Beep! Beep! Beep!” and “Screeeeeech!” as the safari-bound youngster races his (or her) jeep through the terrain, passing the likes of zebras and wildebeests. All is well until the jeep bumps into a rhino calf. The rhino, accompanied by a lanky ostrich, gives chase. Things really get zany as the child jumps into the mud with hippos, meets a crocodile and somersaults with chimps. At last, he or she settles inside a tent, curls up and listens to the noisy night. All manner of creature sounds breach the relative safety of the tent cloth, from hoots and squeals to rumbles and hisses. Finally, the “Big Safari Ranger” stops the action and it really is bedtime—surrounded by miniatures of everything met along the way. With full-page waggish illustrations painted in thick strokes with lively colors, this mini-thriller is proof that imaginations really can go wild. (Picture book. 2-5)