Where’s Lenny?

Toddler-PreS–In this series, Lenny either enlists the participation of his parents or is under their watchful care, as he goes on adventures many young children will be able to relate to. Most pages contain one or two lines of text. Accompanying illustrations help children predict what will happen next. In the title, Where’s Lenny? he plays hide-and-seek with his parents. Text reads, “Where’s Lenny? Daddy hears a rumbling in the cupboard.” The illustration shows Daddy bent down looking in the cupboard. Text on adjoining page states, “‘Aha!’ he says. But when he opens the door he finds nothing.” Readers see a smiling Lenny peeking out behind the cupboard. Lenny and Daddy have brown skin and Mommy is white. In Lenny and Wilbur, the adventure focuses on the boy’s activities with his big yellow lab. In most scenes, Mommy and Daddy are in the background. In the text where Lenny brushes Wilbur, you only see Mommy’s ankles and feet. This type of picture book is needed in collections, and will resonate for many mixed race families who want to see themselves represented. Text, message, and illustrations make these titles stand out.