The more the merrier

PreS-K--Six woodland friends join forces to dance with joy in a celebration of the day: Bear moves in a high-stepping jig, followed by "loose as a goose" Moose, wiggling Snake, leaping Deer, Owl with a swirl of his wings, and finally a dancing Baby Mouse. Each can "just do what I can do" while skipping to the dancing rhythm of the beat. More animals join in their carefree "skippity-skipping, flappity-flipping" friendly dance by themselves or partnered in a two-step, with voices raised in song and helpless laughter, followed by sleep. In this fanciful romp of cartoon creatures in a whimsical forest setting with fantasy colors, boldly painted mixed-media joins a light-filled painted background, while small hidden creatures peek out to watch along forest paths. Rhyming text in a linear wave emphasizes rhythmic movement--"singing to trees, singing to sky"--and encourages reader interaction with repetition. VERDICT A suggested first purchase for libraries, this title is perfectly suited to younger readers or an interactive story time where everyone is encouraged to join in the fun.--Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano I.S.D., TX

A bebopping bear inspires other woodland critters to join him. Bear dances rhythmically along a forest path, "kicking feet, bending knees" while "stepping high, stepping low, / stepping fast, stepping slow," until he encounters Moose. Admiring Bear's smooth moves, the "loose as a goose" Moose proceeds to demonstrate his own high, low, fast, slow "galumphing" steps. Then Snake appears, performing unique slithery moves, "wiggling high," low, fast, and slow. The syncopating trio soon attracts Deer, who jumps in and begins "leaping high, leaping low, / leaping fast, leaping slow." Surprisingly, Owl silently swoops over this jiving, swinging procession, performing aerial feats high, low, fast, and slow, followed by Baby Mouse, who eagerly shows off "skipping" moves. Eventually, Mouse's friends join the hilarious dance party, moving in a circle and proving "the more the merrier." The infectious beat of the rhyming text and repetition of phrases like, "I'm not like you, / So I'll just do what I can do," sets up an energetic, predictable pattern ideal for reading aloud. Set against a bucolic, impressionistic woodland background, the loosely rendered, amusing, dynamic illustrations echo this pattern as the creatures (despite the seeming limitations of their various physiques) perform signature interpretive dances with inspired, fluid, free-spirited abandon across double-page spreads until they all collapse in a merry heap. Joyous, upbeat, toe-tapping, hip-swinging, high-stepping fun. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.