Rise and Shine!

Although this picture book doesn't stray far from the well-worn path of other ``day on the farm'' outings, readers will nonetheless warm to Carlstrom's chipper rhyming text and Catalano's reassuringly solid illustrations. The story line is straightforward: from sunup to sundown, a girl makes the rounds on her family's farm, posing questions to each of the animals in turn (``Wooly Lamb, Wooly Lamb, / How will you play? / Friskily, friskily, / On this spring day''), and enjoying all the simple pleasures the pastoral setting has to offer (picnicking by the duck pond, feeding the livestock, etc.). The clean lines of Catalano's ( Rabbit Surprise ) illustrations and the chestnuts and rusts of his distinctively earth-toned palette exude comfort, making this barnyard a thoroughly agreeable place for youngsters to visit. Ages 3-7. (May)