WHERE IS BEN?

While Mama tries to make a pie, Ben repeatedly interrupts: ""Come find me!"" Indulgently, she plays his game, easily spotting his hiding places from the clues he leaves (e.g., all the boots outside the closet door) and helping him to put things back in order (""Now let's hide the laundry back in the basket""). Finally, Ben hides in his own bed for a story and a nap before they share the finished pie. Russo illustrates this affectionate vignette with elegant simplicity, using tint areas of gentle colors in sophisticated combinations. Good role models in a story that's sure to please toddlers and their parents.