Groovy Joe: Ice Cream and Dinosaurs

First-time collaborators Litwin (Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes) and Lichtenheld (Friendshape) inject raucous rhymes and humor into their lesson about sharing: it’s the sugar that helps the medicine go down. Groovy Joe is a laid-back dog with golden fur. When readers first see him, he’s strumming his guitar, serenading a bird. A delicious treat arrives (“Groovy Joe was living the dream/ He had a spoon and a tub of doggy ice cream”), but before he can dig in, a little dinosaur stomps in: “He put on a bib! He pulled up a chair. What did Joe say? ‘It’s awesome to share!’ ” Two larger dinosaurs appear in succession, but Joe’s ready to share with them all. Not even the end of the ice cream stops the fun. This celebration of sharing has everything: an ice cream–themed refrain for kids to shout out, big stomping dinosaurs who can also cut a rug, and a lovable furry dog. A free reading/singing of the story is available online, offering fodder for boisterous readalouds at libraries, daycare, or school. Ages 3–5. [em]Agent: Amy Rennert, Amy Rennert Agency. (Aug.) [/em]