The Big Fat Worm

New Yorker artist Russo's graphic designs boldly illustrate this appealing circular tale of a big fat worm who almost gets eaten by the big fat bird. The bird in turn escapes from a big fat cat, who then scoots up a tall tree just steps ahead of a big fat dog. The dog settles down to chew his bone, the cat falls asleep in the sun, and the bird swoops back to the now-tranquil scenewhere it once again spies the big fat worm. Both text and art convey the nonmenacing adventurethe cheerful banter between each pair of adversaries sets an appropriate toneand children will enjoy the humor in each comeuppance. The rhythmic repetitions of the text, coupled with the striking simplicity of the art, make this a particularly good choice for reading aloud. Ages 2-7. (October)