KING OF THE PLAYGROUND

Each day Kevin presents himself at the playground, only to be ousted by Sammy's threats ("...he'll dig a hole so deep I'll never get out"); each day Dad mildly points out that Sammy's fierce notions are impractical ("And what would you be doing while Sammy was tying you up? Just sitting there?"), helping Kevin to realize that he's not helpless ("...while Sammy was nailing one door shut, we could walk out the other"). Finally, Kevin gets up his courage and counters Sammy's threats with an imaginative—and logical—verbal exchange. Then, to Sammy's ultimate outlandish threat, Kevin says simply, "Try it"—and the two settle down to play in the sandbox together. Naylor brings wit and good sense to this model exercise in problem solving and conflict resolution. Malone's characters are suitably lively and expressive; her imaginary scenes are differentiated by slightly muted colors. Entertaining and salutory. (Picture book. 4-8)