Up and Down on the Merry-Go-Round

One by one, the children choose from a plethora of handsome steeds: horses, zebras, ostriches, boars and bears, assembled in the ring of a merry-go-round. Rand's luscious watercolor technique adds to the momentum of the swirling merry-go-round, a dazzling array of vibrant colors. A diversity of phonetic sound, coupled with the staggered meter of the merry-go-round grinding to a halt, mirrors the feelings of ambivalence that children experience when such a wonderful ride is over. The combination of Martin and Archembeault's masterfully written and highly readable verse and Rand's characteristically rich illustrations makes this a rhythmic, raucous read-aloud. Ages 5-8. (June)