Pretend

PreS-K—"Pretend," Jimmy says to his father, "that this couch is a big boat," kicking off an action-filled journey. Dad takes a little prodding to get into the spirit of the game, but soon he, his son, and the dog are fishing for cookies, throwing magazine "rocks" at sharks, and scanning the horizon for land. Dad draws the line, though, at standing on the "boat." As the game builds, the details of the living room fade away, leaving the two, and the ever-present pup, on a deserted tropical island. Occasional returns to reality reveal the underpinnings of their game: the stairs become a mountain, and a blanket draped over chairs transforms into a hut. As the game winds down and father, son, and dog rest by an imaginary campfire, Jimmy says, "We can look up at the stars and say, "This is the best time ever.'" "Well," says Dad, "I don't have to pretend that part. It is the best time ever." Watercolor and ink cartoons reinforce the light tone and loving relationship. The text is spot-on—honest and loving without sentimentality. No mother is seen or indicated. Her absence means that this title can be added to the slim list of picture books depicting a one-parent household headed by the father.—Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR