Red Sled

PreS-Gr 2—The premise of this book is simple; the execution is anything but. A child (Caucasian, of indeterminate gender) leaves a red sled outside the house one night, and an ever-growing group of animals borrows it for some snowy sliding fun. Having noticed the footprints, the child realizes what happened and waits to join the critters the next night. Pencil and watercolor spreads create a basic wintry mountain environment, but the stars of the show are the expressive animals. Their childlike delight in each dynamic scene brings a sense of excitement to the story. The text consists entirely of sound effects, laid out on the page in varying font sizes to evoke a sense of movement. The book begs to be read aloud and offers wonderful opportunities for audience participation. This delightful flight of fancy conveys the true excitement of sledding with the imagined fun of befriending wildlife. A gem.—Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL