Daisy and the Beastie

Pip, the little brother Daisy helped hatch in Daisy and the Egg (a companion to the acclaimed Come Along, Daisy), achieves sidekick status in this charming follow-up. Simmons leaves the marshes for a barnyard backdrop. When the ducklings' grandpa tells a story about a ""Beastie"" that was never found, intrepid Daisy goes in search of the creature, and Pip compliantly trails behind. As they check the henhouse, cow pens and pigsty, little Pip repeats the ""cheep"" of the chicks and the ""wee"" of the piglets. Simmons's fluidly paced text uses familiar sounds and varies the word pattern only slightly as the feathered siblings make their rounds, allowing youngsters to join in the chorus. Images of Daisy striding off purposefully on her oversize feet, with her head eagerly stretched forward solidly, establish her confident character. Daisy and Pip look adorably tiny peering up through the fence slats at their larger neighbors. What they first mistake for the ""beastie"" in the dark shed turns out to be a litter of kittens, who, looking patently nonthreatening by the light of day, join the ducklings in play. Enterprising Daisy adapts readily to the role of big sister, and she's a natural leader; readers will follow her anywhere. Ages 3-7. (Mar.)