Jesse's Day Care CL

Each day on her way to work, Jesse's mother brings him to day-care at Sara's house. Valens's straightforward text and Brown's warm illustrations follow both the boy and his mother through a typical day, focusing on how each of them feels as well as on what each does. Both Jesse and his mom are sad when she leaves him at Sara's house, but before long Jesse is engrossed in playing with Sara's toy cars and his mother is busy at her desk. Inset illustrations that show Jesse's mother at the office reinforce the message that there are many parallels between Jesse's and her daily routines. While Jesse snacks on fruit, his mother drinks a cup of tea; when he looks out the window and thinks about how much he misses his mom, she misses him too; while he takes a nap, she wishes she could be napping, too. This realistic look at day-care reassures children that they are never out of their parents' thoughts, not even when they are out of sight. Ages 2-7. (Sept.)