BUSTER'S ECHO

The story of a group of animals that, upon hearing their echoes across the valley, believe that other animals—larger animals—are answering their calls. The dog, Buster, woofs. The rooster crows. The cow moos. The mouse squeaks (he hears a mean rat squeak back, but no one else does). They travel to the other side of the valley, find no animals, and call again. Now it sounds as if the big animals have taken over their home territory, so they dash back to protect it. No animals there? The heroes have vanquished them, obviously, and all is well. Scamell (Roosters Crows, 1994, etc.) fills the story with the repetitions children love, and they'll be bound to join in on the woofs and moos. Newcomer Webster illustrates with black lines so bold they can be measured with a ruler and colors so intense that even preschoolers who have figured out the source of the confusion will linger over each page. (Picture book. 3-7)