Peekaboo Morning

April 15, 2002
A toddler greets the day with games of peekaboo in Isadora's (Nick Plays Baseball) ebullient offering. Rendered in thick, silky pastels, the opening spread introduces an African-American child snuggling in bed, looking straight out of the picture. In the background, the sun beams through the open window, softens the edges of the child's deep black hair and shines light on his or her face. "Peekaboo! I see..." reads the generously sized, toddler-friendly type. "My mommy" appears on the following page, where the child, on the mother's lap, exchanges adoring gazes with her. From this point, recto-page illustrations, set into wide blank borders, show the child initiating the game (e.g., the child, peering over the edge of a white surface, cries "Peekaboo! I see..."), and full-bleed pictures opposite complete the act (the child spies Daddy lying on his bed). Elsewhere, visual clues help children predict what happens next. Sitting in a high chair, for instance, the child sees a furry tail sticking out from behind an open door; a puppy appears on the next page. The lustrous organic palette and simple, repetitive text make a cozy combination. Ages 2-6.

July 1, 2002
PreS-This pleasing picture book features a cheerful African-American toddler playing peekaboo with parents, grandparents, amiable animals, a friend, and even readers. Each sentence begins with "Peekaboo! I see-," and will have young listeners chiming along in no time. Clues in the pictures encourage children to guess just who is being peeked at on each following page. Isadora's rich pastel illustrations depict the child close-up in a colorful, attractive setting. Endpapers show a house on a big green lawn, while inside the book mommy hugs, daddy plays, grandma is busy in the garden, and grandpa relaxes in a deck chair. Whether children live in the city or the country, they'll be able to relate to this simple game and enjoy the narrator's obvious delight. Great for baby lap-sits and toddler storytimes.-Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2002
Ages 2-5. In this sunny, beautifully illustrated game of hide-and-seek, a boisterous African American toddler peeks from under covers, around corners, and through the garden to find her mommy, daddy, grandparents, animals, and a friend. The pages create suspense, alternating the refrain, "Peekaboo! I see . . ." with the happy discovery at the turn of the page. The lovely pastel spreads in the saturated colors of a spring garden capture the excitement and joy of the game, and young ones will love the closing surprise that's just for them. The material is nothing new, but Isadora reshapes it into an exuberant treat for the very young.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)