SKIDAMARINK: A Silly Love Song to Sing Together

A clever cross between a greeting card and a novelty book, this card-stock paperback extends a heartfelt wintertime invitation to readers to snuggle and giggle together. The repeated refrain is simple: "Skidamarink a-dink a-dink,/ Skidamarink a-doo,/ I love you." The verse's elaboration on the theme may border on cliché ("I love you/ in the morning/ and in the afternoon./ I love you/ in the evening/ and underneath/ the moon"), but Karas delivers the message with a wink. The winsome illustrations and the book's double-flap folds will keep youngest readers eagerly turning the pages to see the antics of a captivating polar bear and penguin. The white, potato-shaped bear hunkers down on an ottoman ice cube—"skidamarink"—as the green-hatted penguin skates to the edge of the page. A single turn of the flap reveals—"a-dink"—the penguin nearly falling off the ice flow. A second turn of the flap finds the penguin splashing in the blue water. Skate marks extend the visual action. The lumbering bear watches the penguin twirl like a top, as if releasing pent-up feelings, and readers can see the heart-shaped path the penguin has carved into the ice. As an alternative to a Valentine or Christmas card, or as an inexpensive gift for any time, this silly, snowy book will warm hearts both large and small. Ages 2-6. (Dec.)