GOOD FOR YOU!

An assortment of two dozen rhymes touts the triumphs of toddlerhood in this wonderfully affirming collection. Joyously exuberant, Calmenson’s verses enlighten and entertain. Snappy rhymes instruct readers on such preschool essentials as colors, numbers, letters, and animal sounds. Social niceties are also covered in the perky poems: “Oops! Excuse Me!” helps wee ones mind their manners while “Teddy Bear Eats Out” provides a valuable lesson in restaurant etiquette. The singsong rhymes celebrate everything from the joys of potty learning to rollicking bus rides. “Run, run! Catch the bus! / Run, run! It stopped for us! / Climb inside. Pay for our ride. / Bumpity, bumpity, bumpity bus.” Several rhyming riddles are also included—keeping older preschoolers challenged. Sweet’s buoyant illustrations depict idyllic childhood days filled with parks, loving caregivers, and merry tikes. Full-bleed paintings feature children of many cultures harmoniously playing together. A gleaming array of hues captivate the reader’s eye: tangerine and fuchsia-colored fish swim beneath turquoise waters in one spread while bright lime and sunlight-yellow backgrounds shimmer in others. Perky and pertinent. (Picture book. 1-5)