Who's Who in My Family?

Leedy (Fraction Action) creatively explains the concept of the family tree, which is the lesson of the day for Ms. Fox's class of six young animals. A kitten dressed in overalls holds up a homemade tree-shaped chart to name the members of her traditional extended family. Blended families are represented on the trees of some of Ms. Fox's other students: a young rabbit has two step-families; a squirrel tells of her half brother and half sister. And a young raccoon interjects that ""my mom and dad adopted me when I was one day old and made me a member of their family."" The book's final page lists definitions of ""family words."" Leedy's fictional setting and playful, stylized art add sparkle to her subject. Combining portraits and action pictures of the various families, her illustrations feature luminescent colors dominated by an intriguing palette of deep blues, greens and grays. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)