I Want to Help!

PreS-K—Athletic, creative, brave Emily Pearl is back. During the bustling school day, she feeds the class tarantula and swings on the monkey bars "two at a time," and she can count to 14. Throughout, Emily Pearl echoes the title, offering to assist her teacher. Ms. Glenn reciprocates when the child's father is late for pickup. "But at 1:55 when/her dad isn't there,/Emily feels just a/little bit scared." Hayashi's illustrative riffs add to the charm with her soft-palette watercolors. The youngster writes her name on her arm and uses a dinosaur toy to discourage a rogue lizard. The best scenes show that often Ms. Glenn's disasters are instigated by the child's enthusiasm, like the water fountain overflowing with green paint. Children will appreciate this relatable tale with likable characters.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA