I LOVE LEMONADE

“Revenge is a drink best served cold,” reads the book’s ominous epigraph.

Quirky Turkey, who was tricked by Little Baa Baa into eating poo in Baa Baa Smart Sheep (2016), wants revenge. Billy the goat offers a glass of yellowish liquid (likely this won’t end well for someone). Little Baa Baa happens by, and after commenting on the heat of the day, Turkey offers Baa Baa a cool glass of lemonade. Little Baa Baa loves lemonade, especially fresh-squeezed lemonade. And this lemonade is free, according to Turkey, to turkeys—er, and sheep. Little Baa Baa is suspicious; it looks like pee. As in the earlier book, the action is all in the fast-paced dialogue: “ ‘So you’re sure it’s lemonade?’ / ‘Yes, it’s lemonade.’ / ‘That’s fresh.’ / ‘And squeezed.’ / ‘And delicious.’ / ‘And free!’ / ‘To sheep.’ / ‘And turkeys!’ / ‘YOU’RE a turkey!’ / ‘I AM a turkey!’ / ‘Who likes lemonade?’ / ‘Who LOVES lemonade!’ / ‘Then…why don’t you help yourself?’ / ‘Don’t mind if I do!’ ” Poor Quirky Turkey, tricked again. Little Baa Baa offers a cookie in consolation (you don’t want to know). The Sommersets offer another tale of mischief told mostly in dialogue bubbles that is sure to make parents groan and …um…wee ones double over with laughter. Both the earth-toned, cartoon critters on slightly paler earth-toned solid backgrounds and precise sense of comedic pacing again bring Willems to mind.

Guaranteed hysterics for readers with strong stomachs