Blue-Ribbon Dad

PreS-Gr 2—In rhyming quatrains, a young squirrel prepares a surprise for his father. He gathers his tools: glue, glitter, pencils, and clay, working independently while nearby his mother prepares a cake. He counts down the hours until his father is due to return: "My dad is coming home soon,/And with two hours left I find/A golden sticker, big and bright./It's just the perfect kind." He completes a step of his project each hour as he reminisces about activities that his father engages in: "He always packs my favorite lunch,/Then drives me right to school./On Saturdays he stays to watch/My lessons at the pool." The youngster works steadily, and, at five o'clock, Dad comes home to a hug, a chocolate cake, and a handmade blue ribbon. The rhyming text and large illustrations are ideal for a read-aloud. The happy squirrel family is rendered in black pen and watercolors. Attentive readers will notice small details, such as a clock in the background on which to check the time. The book concludes with a blue ribbon to punch out as a gift. This is a good pick for celebrating fathers.—Laura Butler, Mount Laurel Library, NJ