Three Little Peas

K-Gr 2—Two little peas pop out of their shells and set off on an adventure around their garden. They climb trees, perch atop a cauliflower, and hide from the rain under mushrooms. Eventually, garden creatures chase the peas until they find refuge underground. Before long, the peas take root and produce another little pea with their same wanderlust. The art is interesting, and the process of Rivoal's etching process is detailed in the back matter. As unusual as it is, it seems a mismatch for the intended age group. The palette is monochromatic with the exception of the peas and may not pull in very young readers. The occasional hidden creatures will be barely discernible to preschool "readers," and some they won't understand at all. For example, are those bunny slippers on the cauliflower page? Why is there a car under the earth when the peas go underground? The mole, the praying mantis, and the spider pursuing the peas appear dark and menacing. There are more suitable books for this age group about the life cycle such as Pat Zietlow Miller's Sophie's Squash (Random, 2013) and numerous Lois Ehlert titles.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA