Funny Face, Sunny Face

PreS—Young animals mirror the toddlers in Symes's latest rhyming picture book. When a child with a "sunny face" is waking up in her bedroom, "Bunny face" is getting out of her bed. "Bear hair" (a cub), "fair hair" (a boy), "hardly any there hair" (a baby and a piglet). A group of children and animals make their way down the stairs with a favorite toy. After a healthy meal in their highchairs, all the friends go outside to spend the afternoon playing games and exploring their surroundings. The day ends with baths, stories and sleepy smiles. Beardshaw's mixed-media illustrations keep the rhythmic story full of energy. When the characters are doing activities such as dancing and playing musical instruments, they are cheerful and always with an equally bubbly friend. Librarians reading this book during toddler time can ask the children to touch or move different parts of their bodies as they are mentioned in the story.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada