With gentle humor, Montes (Juan Bobo Goes to Work) addresses cooperation against adversaries, as a forest full of animals work together to rescue a runaway goose egg. Her sturdy verse follows the offspring-to-be of Mr. and Mrs. Gabbler as it rolls out of the nest and off on a wild ride. Nabbed by Doris the tortoise, rescued by Kit the flying squirrel and recaptured by a jeering Hector the Hawk, the egg is dislodged by a kick from Mrs. Gabbler and caught in midair by the intrepid Kit. " 'We saved Gabbler's Egg!'/ feisty Kit led the cheer./ 'We worked as a team/ and we saved someone dear!' " Winborn's (A Valentine for Norman Noggs) watercolor spreads combine the dynamism and expressiveness of animation with the softness of a blossoming spring backdrop. While the Gabblers' method of conflict resolution may not be preferred by some adults (it involves a lot of yelling and one well-placed boot in the rear), children will cheer on the antics of the forest dwellers and chuckle at Winborn's cartoon-bubble asides ("Adieu!" says Hector Hawk poetically as he flies off with the egg). Ages 3-7. (Feb.)
