This is the boat that Ben built

PreS-Gr 1--Bailey's debut puts an ecological spin on "This Is the House That Jack Built," in a cumulative tale of a boy exploring a northern river ecosystem. Dark-haired, fair-skinned Ben heads downstream in his very own boat. Safety first as Ben, as well as the grown-up and dog watching from shore, wears a life vest, even though Ben sails solo. This is a simple and gentle introduction to northern wildlife. Young readers may not know what a loon is, but the illustrations and text make it clear that it is a waterfowl. As all the other creatures have been relatively small and non-threatening, the introduction of a black bear may be a bit startling to readers, although neither Ben nor his watchful companions are bothered. All is peaceful and calm until an owl hoots and sets off a chaotic chain reaction. No harm is done to any creature (except perhaps the fish that ends up in the boat) and then the watchful grown-up and dog board the boat. Zeng balances stylized realism with cuddliness in the creatures she depicts; cool, dreamy blues and green hues put readers in mind of a late spring or early summer day. Back matter includes details about river ecosystems and the animals that appear in the book. VERDICT Recommended for most picture book collections, especially those serving geographic regions sharing some of these species.--Heather Webb