I Believe in You

While the vignettes in Richmond's latest inspirational picture book are intended for the elementary school set (her characters grapple with not getting picked for a team, being scared of monsters in the closet, and jumping off the diving board), what human, of any age, couldn't use this kind of cheering up: "When your project seems too hard,/ and you want to go to bed,/ I believe in your smart thinking/ to learn and grow instead." Feel-good, you-can-do-it stories often sag under the weight of their own preciousness, but Richmond has found her sweet spot (though it may still be too saccharine for some). The succinct, plainspoken text employs figurative language with a light touch ("When the day dips up and down/ like a roller coaster ride"), and her pastel watercolors strike the right balance between astute observation and a breezy, na%C3%AFf aesthetic. There are even a few surprises, like the overhead view of a once-frightened child snuggling with one of the closet monsters. Even those who aren't fond of this genre will recognize that Richmond knows how to craft a book with broad commercial appeal. Ages 4%E2%80%93up. (Aug.)