Boker Tov! Good Morning!

The Hebrew phrase for "Good Morning" is the inspiration for a sweet-natured tribute to the joys of experiencing creation anew each day ("Good morning, light shining in./ So much to do we can't wait to begin"). Brown's cheery paintings, which chronicle a boy's morning at home and school, are distinguished by exuberant colors and have just enough na%C3%AFf charm to be endearing without cloying. The text ("We thank God for the food we eat/ For the earth beneath our feet.../ For the morning sunshine bright,/ That fills our hearts with joy and light./ Boker tov!") is actually lyrics to a song on an accompanying CD, from rabbi and singer/songwriter Black's 1998 album, "Everybody's Got a Little Music." While the overly familiar words don't exactly bounce off the page, they feel far livelier when interpreted by Black's genial, folksy vocals. A suitably buoyant way to begin the day. Ages 1%E2%80%944. (Sept.)