Oh, No!

In this first collaboration from Fleming (Clever Jack Takes the Cake) and Rohmann (Bone Dog), jungle animals tumble one by one into a deep pit: "Frog fell into a deep, deep hole. Ribbit-oops! Ribbit-oops!" The rhythm of the lines recalls the old favorite "Frog Went A-Courtin'," and the story's chain of accidents and bumbling characters are friendly, familiar devices, too. Mouse falls in trying to rescue Frog, Loris tumbles down from a tree, Sun Bear's rescue attempt fails, Monkey's swing from a vine goes wrong, but--just as Tiger looms above--they're all rescued by a kindly elephant. It sounds like light fare, but Rohmann's magnificent woodblock-style prints give it unexpected dignity. The jungle pit is as spacious as a cathedral, and the animals somersault into it like Olympic divers in slow motion. Humor prevails, though, with piquant sound words ("The ground bumble-rumbled and quake-shake-quaked"), speech balloons floating up out of the pit, and glimpses of the tiger's tail and paws. It's a book with the feel of an older classic--and it may well become one. Ages 3-7. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. (Sept.)

PreS-Gr 2--Rohmann's relief prints bring an exuberant humor to Fleming's rhythmic read-aloud. When an elastic-looking frog falls into a deep hole ("Ribbit-oops!"), a timid mouse, lugubrious loris, resourceful sun bear, and jaunty monkey all tumble down after him during unsuccessful rescue attempts. Fleming's bouncing rhymes and repeated lines-set in comfortably large, rounded text-entice readers into an enjoyable delivery complete with snarled sound effects and onomatopoeic exclamations. The repetitive "Oh, no!" allows listeners to join in with the engaging text as the animals face a lurking tiger eager to snack on the helpless group. Rohmann knows to leave swathes of open space in his full-spread illustrations, focusing attention on his expressive, energetic animals in their vibrant safari palette of bright browns, tans, and greens. In a satisfying conclusion, the refrain returns as the tiger, now stuck in the hole, asks the released animals if they will help him clamber out. Oh, no!--Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY