cover image Mother's Day Surprise

Mother's Day Surprise

Stephen Krensky, , illus. by Kathi Ember. . Marshall Cavendish, $15.99 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-7614-5633-9

Offering a scaly twist on Mother's Day, Violet is a friendly orange snake sporting a purple beret, but unlike her woodland friends, she can't figure out what to do for her mother on Mother's Day—especially without “arms or legs or teeth.” But using her creativity (and flexibility), she finds a way to express her love. Violet's goofy dinosaur looks are a quirky contrast to Ember's buoyant springtime forest, where the woodsier animals look more at home. Surprisingly, only Violet's mother makes an appearance, and even that is fleeting. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)