The Hero of Little Street

K-Gr 3—Rogers's third wordless book features the young hero from The Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard (Roaring Brook, 2004). His first escapade occurs in modern-day London near the National Gallery. It involves a soccer ball, a fountain, and a flight from bullies. Fans of the previous titles will recognize familiar characters cleverly incorporated into the art when the protagonist seeks refuge inside the museum. Befriended by the dog in Van Eyck's Arnolfini Wedding Portrait, the youngster follows him into Vermeer's A Lady Seated at a Virginal. After enjoying a musical interlude and a gift that later proves useful back in the real world, the twosome exit into Vermeer's The Little Street, ultimately encountering a canine-caging butcher in 17th-century Holland. Rogers's visual narrative is both an aesthetic treat and masterful storytelling. Small panels with minimal detail, often on white, focus the eye on motivations, causes, and sequential action. Larger frames, full-page bleeds, and a single, glorious spread generally show consequences—a slowing of activity, allowing viewers to take in the Old World charm of the majestic halls, paintings, and Delft cityscapes—all rendered in watercolor and ink and shown from varying perspectives. The scenes are frequently humorous, as when all of the rescued dogs crowd around the virginal. This rare combination of action-packed fun and fine art yields new discoveries with each reading and is sure to create fond memories for future students of Art 101.—Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library