Cowan-Fletcher (Baby Angels) depicts an idyllic interlude of preschooler pretend, filled with giggles and games and the simple joys of larking about. Young Will has four toy animals: Orsey the horse, Dow the cow, Bah the sheep and Wink-Wink the pig. Indoors, they fit snugly inside his straw farmer's hat. But when he takes them outside to the soft green lawn "so they can stretch out," they become life-size friends that can romp and play hide-and-seek (the horse likes to hide behind the scarecrow). When everyone is "played out," Will's animals magically shrink to toy-size again, and join "the happiest little farmer in the whole wide world" in bed for a nap. Gossamer, sunlit pastel drawings in spreads and vignettes complement an unadorned text that exudes authenticity. The author/artist demonstrates her keen understanding of a child's sense of imaginative play, as Will gleefully and determinedly throws his entire body into the act of running and frolicking. As for Will's playmates, they're everything an imaginative child could ask for: roly-poly, bright-eyed, utterly devoted and always poised for adventure. Ages 2-5. (June)
