Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool (Preschool Problems #1)

Pretend play helps a child with preschool jitters in Rutstein and Nill’s understanding story, the first in the Preschool Problems series. Ravi, portrayed with peach skin and sporting antennae and ladybug wings, resists each step of the first day of preschool’s morning routine. “Ladybugs don’t eat cornflakes... go to preschool... wear sweaters,” he indicates to his mother, whose sensible responses move things along. As they approach the classroom, Ravi’s nerves run high (“Beneath his exoskeleton, his insides squirmed and churned”), but the child takes comfort in the knowledge that “ladybugs might be small, but their bright colors made them brave,” and the presence of a schoolyard garden helps further ease the transition. With smudgy sponge textures, soft-edged and light-infused artwork leans appropriately into botanicals across domestic and outdoor scenes. Through Ravi, the creators showcase the way play can help kids exert autonomy, especially when navigating new surroundings. Ages 3–up. (July)