So Cozy

PreS-Gr 1—Dog just wants to take a nap in his cozy bed. A goose wanders up and decides to join him and then a myriad of other animals follow suit including a herd of rabbits, a bear and her cubs, and even a massive elephant. Each subsequent creature declares the scene "cozy" and pile on top of one another in a comical fashion. The tipping point occurs when a little mouse climbs on top of Elephant's trunk, causing a massive sneeze and the disbursement of all and sundry. Deciding this group nap was not such a great idea, each animal exits the scene with such exclamations as "too sneezy" and "so scary." The tale ends with Dog and Mouse curling up and declaring it "so cozy." Korda's illustrations, washed in warm colors rendered in gouache, pencil, and crayon, give off a contented feel. Children will have fun watching each animal's expression go from pleasure, as they join Dog in his bed, to irritation as each additional animal joins the sleepy bunch.