The Rolling Store

A nostalgic look at old-time peddlers inspires two enterprising youngsters in Johnson's (When I Am Old with You) tender story. An African American girl tells her friend about her grandfather's fond memory of the Rolling Store that came, ""with all its wonders,"" to ""the crossroads by the pine woods"" so people could buy ""what they needed and didn't need."" And while the two kids imagine what shopping was like in Granddaddy's day, they are busy preparing some Rolling Store magic of their own. Catalanotto's (Who Came Down That Road?) sun-splashed watercolor-and-pencil paintings simultaneously depict the breezy summer scenes of Granddaddy's country childhood and those of the two contemporary children baking the cookies, squeezing the lemonade, painting the rocks and stringing bead necklaces that they will sell from their red-wagon rolling store. The girl's careful recollection--and imitation--of her grandfather's descriptions subtly demonstrate the warm respect and love she has for him. The girl and her pal also exhibit a lively sense of fun and of teamwork. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)