Heart to Heart

Pun lovers, foodies, and puzzlers of all ages will be charmed by Ehlert's love poem, which is packaged in a gift-ready, small-format trim size and constructed around playful rebus-style images of food items and other objects. "I'm [cherry] when I c u," begins one line, "[olive] u, n it shows,/ My [heart] starts [pumpkin]/ from my head down [tomatoes]." The contrast between the electric blues, pinks, greens, and other vivid colors Ehlert uses for her cut-paper artwork makes her spreads seem to vibrate with excited energy, and the various rebus items are labeled for those still learning words such as lime, plum, and lettuce. While there is the occasional groaner tucked in here and there ("We could [celery]brate"), only the surliest readers won't crack a smile as they turn the pages. Irresistible. Up to age 8. (Jan.)