The Happily Ever Afternoon

August 1, 2006
PreS-K. "Once upon a time" begins this story of a brave hero who outwits dragons to gain access to a roomful of treasure. Though the text appears to take place in medieval times, the pictures tell quite a different story. The setting is present-day, the hero is a little boy in T-shirt and overalls, the dragons are the household dog and cat, and the treasure room is the kitchen, its table laden with birthday treats. With a short text and a series of large-scale oil paintings in sunny colors, this simple picture book offers an imaginative experience for young children enchanted by fairy tales. Just for fun, pair this with Steven Krenksy's " We Just Moved!" (1998), which takes the opposite approach: illustrations set in medieval times accompany an apparently modern-day text about moving day.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)