Bubbles

Kangaroo loves to blow bubbles, and when a trail of them leads her to Koala, a fellow bubble blower, she’s eager to be friends. Unfortunately, her exuberant hellos and gifts are met with silence; Koala even climbs a tree to avoid Kangaroo. It soon becomes clear that Koala’s lack of reciprocation isn’t indifference, but shyness, and before long, the two are wordlessly exchanging bubble animals. However, their “happy bubble party” takes a turn when the bubbles combine and form a giant green monster that begins to chase Kangaroo. Just in time, Koala summons courage and jumps down from the tree to help Kangaroo vanquish the bubble monster with a big pop. With spare, precise text and softly colored, delicate watercolor-and-ink illustrations, Chase (Oliver’s Tree) thoughtfully captures the way a new friendship can tentatively unfold, and her depiction of Koala’s initial uncertainty lends the book particular emotional depth. United by bubbles, the two friends celebrate with, what else, bubble gum—“and they blew bubbles happily ever after.” Ages 3–7. [em]Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Bookmark Literary. (June) [/em]