Shout! Shout It Out!

Like an exuberant, slightly older sibling to The Everything Book, Fleming's latest concept book invites preschoolers to show what they know by shouting it out. Mouse, a recurring critter in the author's works, seems to have infiltrated a preschool class. Against speckled backgrounds of brilliant pink, orange, green, and purple, Mouse scampers through zippy images of numbers, letters, colors, animals, and modes of transportation. On each spread, exuberant, multiethnic children—mouths open wide—appear to yell out the names of the featured objects, visually encouraging readers to do the same (and make no mistake: there will be shouting). Fleming brings a new dimension to her signature pulp-painting technique, using swatches of patterned paper collage and marker accents on her figures. The approach gives everyone more prominent features and allows the kids to be portrayed in joyous full bellow. Children just learning their colors, animals, and ABCs will be invigorated, and those who have already mastered these basics will still enjoy the top-of-their-lungs review—as well as Mouse's asides along the way. Ages 2–6. (Mar.)