Books Always Everywhere

Blatt debuts with a jubilant celebration of books, aiming her chirpy rhymes at both pre- and emergent readers. Two easily sounded-out words accompany each of Massini's (Tulip Loves Rex) mixed-media illustrations, which feature cherubic babies and toddlers. On the first spread, a child stands next to a giant book displaying a picture of an elephant ("Book big"); the next pages show a baby crawling over to a board book showcasing a mouse ("Book small"). After introducing books with exaggerated horizontal and vertical formats ("Book wide/ Book tall"), Blatt ventures beyond opposites as toddlers use books for various non-reading purposes%E2%80%94stacked as chairs, tented as hats, and as building blocks for a play house%E2%80%94before settling down (sort of) to read. It's a nimbly paced and satisfying progression, further elevated by Massini's art, which incorporates witty thematic book titles that tie into the settings and characters (e.g., a child in a swing drops a book entitled Oops-a-Daisy!). A mouse scooting through the pages provides added visual diversion. A sturdy stepping-stone to titles like Judy Sierra and Marc Brown's Wild About Books. Ages 3%E2%80%937. (May)