Chasing Watermelons

Snappy text and clean artwork pull equal weight in this collaboration by brothers. It's a classic chase story%E2%80%94and each time it seems to be over, another obstacle appears%E2%80%94but its execution is smooth. Determined to have a "watermelon feast," Duck pries open a crate of watermelons in a field and sprints after two that roll away. One by one, four more animals join in the chase, lured by Duck's offer, "If you help, you can have some too." When the fruit bounces onto a passing train, the animals jump onto a handcar in hot pursuit, using other vehicles to do the same when the watermelons subsequently tumble onto a boat, truck, and plane. The excitement of the chase is somewhat subdued by the fact that there are only two runaway melons involved%E2%80%94it's not much to chase after, and not much of a feast. But Rex White's animals, with their swoopy black outlines and expressive reactions, are an active and charming bunch to follow, and the narrative's lively repetition encourages reader participation. Ages 3%E2%80%936.