Max and Ruby’s Preschool Pranks

Ruby and best friend Louise head up Miss Ruby and Miss Louise’s Home Preschool, but it’s tough keeping their students in line. Max won’t get out of his gorilla costume, Lily brings a volcano kit to school, and Can’t-Sit-Up-Slug (one of several toys in attendance) falls out of his cot during naptime and must be escorted to the nurse on a stretcher (which he nearly falls out of, too). School rules and lessons on shapes, letters, and numbers appear beneath flaps made to look like composition notebooks. They’re somewhat superfluous, but the rest of the story is so much fun—including a “perfectly” exploding volcano that includes paprika, ketchup, and sprinkles, along with the traditional baking soda and vinegar—that it doesn’t even matter. Ages 3–5. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (July)