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PreS-Gr 1—In a family of cave swallows, big brother Burt and big sister Pippi think their nest is too packed to share with their eight active siblings, so they set off to find another place to live. They land in several possible spots that turn out to be unsuitable—a sturdy but hard turtle's shell, a fluffy but too fast cheetah's back, and other unaccommodating animals. Eventually they decide that the best home is their own crowded but comfortable nest. The fanciful gouache, acrylic, and colored pencil drawings of polka-dotted birds and animals vary from super close-ups of Burt and Pippi (meaning readers won't be able to see what animal the birds are standing on) to wider shots that reveal why these choices would not make suitable homes. However, one can't help but wonder why all the possible homes involve other animals, instead of more obvious options, such as a tree or rooftop. Although the art is perky, the story doesn't hold up against P. D. Eastman's classic The Best Nest (Random, 1968).—Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT