I'm the Boss!

PreS-K—A small blue monster with all the temerity of a preschooler declares herself the boss, and who is to argue? The evidence is laid out in this cheerful board book, in scene after scene of her demands—"I want a garbage truck and I want to drive it myself! A big one! Right now!"—being politely refused by her large red caregiver. "No, Lulu, I can't give you a garbage truck and let you drive it yourself!" This call-and-negative-response continues right through to the penultimate demand; "I want a funny monkey! A big one! Right now!" but the parent-monster can grant the next and final request. "Yes, Lulu, I can give you a big hug." Lap-sitters and other listeners will be all in on Lulu's tantrum, and the common-sense calm of each soothing "No." Bright, simple shapes and a deliberately repetitive layout give toddlers plenty to point to and anticipate, in a funny, right-out-of-real-life exploration of how to reach a win-win truce. VERDICT For baby story hours, the lilt of the text and the sharply defined shapes will have the audience enthralled.—Kimberly Olson Fakih