Under the Hood

PreS-Gr 1—This goofy, interactive picture book has some interesting surprises hidden under its multilayered pages. Mr. Bear's car has broken down, and he needs readers' help to find his mechanic friends Mouse, Bird, and Crocodile. Once they have been located, they discover that an errant pair of pink underwear seems to be the reason Bear's sporty red convertible isn't working. When the vehicle is finally repaired, the bear goes on a joyride, only to have his roadster break down again while he's drag racing an elephant on a motorcycle. Luckily, Mr. Bear's pals come to the rescue with a tow truck. The large, humorous illustrations are done in vivid hues set against cream-colored backgrounds. Children will delight in the mystery of what lies beneath all those flaps.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh, PA