Roly-Polies

Carretero breaks many of the rules of picture book construction: her narrative wanders, her plot is all prologue, and her characters are insects whose primary distinction is the ability to roll themselves up into little balls. Also, "they're chubby, which is another way of saying short and fat. And they're a very dull gray." Despite these shortcomings, an engaging voice ("Sunbathing... warms up their little accordion-shaped bodies") and cute-as-a-bug artwork carry readers through encyclopedic background about the roly- polies' dwelling place underneath the Grand Variety Theater and their entry into the world of performance; a flea impresario offers them the chance to put together a traveling show ("Although she was most comfortable working with insects, she had discovered some truly amazing mammal acts"). There, disappointingly, the book ends, just as the action promises to heat up. The book is a little like a variety show itself, with short appearances by many different roly-poly family members (dramatic singers Castor and Eurydice, the great magician "Butterbean"), and a wealth of costumes and props. Offbeat but charming entertainment. Ages 5–7. (Apr.)