Are there angels here on Earth? The cuddly creatures of McGee's (Sleepy Me
) gentle-hearted picture book believe so. Beginning with a history of sorts ("Long ago, when the world was new,/ The Angels all had work to do"), the melodic rhyming text describes some of the essential roles angels played in the creation of the world. A raft of animals then cites examples of angels' presence in contemporary times (" 'The Angels are still here,' said Owl./ 'They teach our babies how to sing./ They show us how to nest and fly,/ To sail the sky on silent wing' "). Macnaughton's (One Snowy Night
) plushly textured paintings feature cozy images of animal families and unfettered landscapes. Throughout, the artist represents the angels' presence with a shimmering stream of silver-foil dots emanating from a winged white, gauzy shape on high. The novelty art and the comforting tenets here are likely to have broad appeal. Ages 3-up. (May)
