Over, Bear! Under, Where?

Composed of puns and wordplay employing “under” and “over,” Hedlund delivers a whimsical “Who’s on First”–like picture book, following characters Under, a mole; Over, a green-blue bird; and Dog, “a hot-dog dog.” The characters are enjoying themselves in and around a playground—until Bear emerges from the woods and chaos ensues. Hedlund’s spare text is conveyed in lines and through speech bubbles: “Push, Over!” one bubble reads, as Under sits in a swing seat. “Under is over Over,” the page across the gutter reads, as the mole soars high on the swing. Dynamic, gradient-washed digital illustrations by Slack amplify humor through goggle-eyed animals and an uncluttered palette. A slim tome that earns its giggles. Back matter includes an author’s note and a glossary. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)