It's only one!

The animals of Sunnyville--and preschool readers--learn how one animal's action can snowball into something bad or good. The opening double-page spread shows over a dozen vividly colorful anthropomorphic cartoon animals happily engaged in various activities against a low-detail background of a pale blue village. Bold black print on the verso declares: "Sunnyville was perfect. Friendly and fun. It twinkled with perfect loveliness!" Yellow speech bubbles from animals affirm the collective happiness with cheerful or kind comments. The text at the bottom of the recto warns, "But then, without thinking…." On the next spread, there is excellent contrast in the art: A field of aquamarine backgrounds a large rhinoceros--clad in a red-and-white shirt and blue overalls--who tosses a candy wrapper behind its bulky shoulder. Rhino's assertion that "It's only one" is the beginning of Sunnyville's quick downward trend from lovely to most unpleasant. Other animals follow Rhino's bad example until the village is trashed. After Giraffe has picked "only one" flower and Penguin blasts out "only one" song on a portable Victrola, Sunnyville has plummeted dangerously. Can Mouse turn things around with one small, kind action? Giraffe is male, Mouse female, others unassigned. Repetition, onomatopoeia, short phrases, and excellent art and design make this a great read-aloud for the very young. The story is followed by sweet (but probably not attention-holding) tips on being a good neighbor. Who says morality tales can't be fun? (author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.