Strollercoaster

“Each and every day,” strong-willed young Sam, who has glossy black pigtails, finds that “inside feels too small.” Only briefly intimidated by the hail of flying toys that she begins flailing about, Sam’s parent straps Sam into a stroller (“SNAP! The buckle clicks. WHOOSH! The straps pull tight”) and launches the Strollercoaster. In their instantly identifiable comic book style, Raúl the Third and colorist Elaine Bay (the World of ¡Vamos! books) imagine the two careening through a cityscape crammed with sensory delights—colorful buildings, waving neighbors, Spanish-language signage, “Fresh sneakers. Sweet smells. Shouts from the basketball court.” Steep hills on the route provide a place for Sam’s parent to reach maximum speed (the wind “sounds like the noisiest noise, and Sam feels like she’s flying!!”). It all works magic on the girl’s terrible mood. Ringler (School Surprise!) is full of insight about the travails of toddlerhood, while Raúl the Third and Bay’s visual invention powers a dream of an urban landscape that gives joy to its community. Ages 4–8. [em]Author’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. Illustrator’s agent: Jennifer Laughran, Andrea Brown Literary. (May) [/em]