When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old's Memoir of Her Youth

Actress Curtis and illustrator Cornell ( Earl's Too Cool for Me ) evoke a healthy child's proud sense of self in this exuberant picture book. The narrator, a girl who prefaces almost every statement with ``When I was little,'' delightedly lists all the things she can do now that she's nursery-school age. ``When I was little, I spilled a lot,'' she explains. ``Mom said I was a handful. Now I'm helpful.'' Pictures of a cheerful baby contrast with the protagonist in her maturity, and both a sunny palette of watercolors and playful lines effectively capture the narrative's buoyant spirit. Unfortunately, the book strikes one sour note: Curtis and Cornell each slip in implicit endorsements of specific cereals and junk foods (Cap'n Crunch, Chee-tos, Animal Crackers)--gratuitous inclusions that mar an otherwise winsome, upbeat work. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)