Lately Lily: The Adventures of a Travelling Girl

A tie-in to a line of travel-related clothing and merchandise (of which Player is creative director), this book sees redheaded Lily and her stuffed animal pal, Zeborah, following in the footsteps of Lily's globetrotting parents (seen only once from their necks down, striding quickly and stylishly ahead of their daughter). Player's text is unflagging in its energy and optimism, which can make Lily seem more like a symbol of a busy, jet-setting lifestyle than a character in her own right. "Every day is an adventure! I wonder what we'll do today?" Lily asks in a setting that could be either a Chinatown or China itself. "New places lead to unexpected discoveries," she says while contemplating the Mona Lisa and gelato. "Museums make me want to create!" There's no denying the %C3%A9lan of Player's colorful, cartooned illustrations or the gamine charm of his breezily confident heroine. This is not a kid who whines that her feet hurt, that she doesn't care about another stupid statue, or that all she wants is McDonald's French fries. In other words, she's a platonic ideal for parents and kids alike. Ages 3%E2%80%935. (Apr.)