cover image Harold's Runaway Nose

Harold's Runaway Nose

Harriet Sonnenschsin. Simon & Schuster, $12.95 (33pp) ISBN 978-0-671-66912-6

Poor Harold has the sniffles, and when his mother tells him that his nose is running, he misunderstands her and races after it in a panic. Up to the attic, down to the cellar, the little bunny searches everywhere, but his runaway nose is nowhere to be found. Harold tries the porch and the garden, and even climbs a tree when he thinks he spies it in a pile of straw on a branch. Alas, what he thinks is his nose proves to be only a startled baby robin who flies squawking from its nest. The crestfallen Harold trots off to tell his mother his woes, and much to his surprise, finds that what he has been looking for is as plain as, well, the nose on his face. It's a clever tale, told with genuine humor and warmth by first-time author Sonnenschein. Obrist's colorful illustrations introduce plenty of funny details; between them, author and artist take a very simple idea to its persuasive, comic finish. Ages 2-5. (June)