Downward Dog with Diego

PreS-K—In this straightforward introduction to yoga, first-time author and illustrator Prichett leads toddlers and young children through 10 animal-based poses with an instructive rhyming narrative. Tan-skinned, red-haired Diego is learning yoga and invites readers to "follow the animals." While the rhymes start out strong ("stretch like a cat…arch high off your mat"), later they begin to feel somewhat forced. Each pose is demonstrated by the brightly colored animal for which it is named, followed by its silhouette, with Diego's human form inside showing the yoga interpretation. Every page is vivid, engaging, and pleasantly constructed, with simple shapes and ample empty space. The creatures, with their thick lines and bold patchwork colors, are reminiscent of those drawn by Lucy Cousins, with a touch of Picasso. The cartoonlike depictions are supported by back matter featuring more detailed illustrations of each pose, its physical and mental benefits, and its Sanskrit name. In a misguided attempt to keep the book at a child's level, the word Sanskrit is hidden in a note, whereas in the general text, the asanas are referred to as having "funny names."