Jump (I Like to Read)

PreS-Gr 1--This title focuses on various things that can jump, starting with a boy and a girl, followed by a bug, a frog, and a rabbit. They all demonstrate their jumping abilities, as does a kangaroo, a hippo, and the cow who jumped over the moon. Lots of white space on the page highlights the actions from the two children and their animal pals. The white space also makes the text stand out, rendering it easy for young readers to find. The simple sentences are variations on a theme ("A rabbit can jump." "We can jump.") and will help readers to make connections from the text on the page to the illustrations. McPhail's pictures are very expressive and are done in watercolor. Despite being a book about the action of jumping, the overall effect is quite serene and reassuring. This could make a good toddler storytime read, but kids who are interested in independent reading will likely read it over and over again. VERDICT A charming early reader that would make a fine purchase for most collections.--Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX