WHAT JAMES LIKES BEST

James is on the go in these four short stories targeted toward the preschool set. Schwartz (The Boys Team, 2001, etc.) has provided a wonderful introduction to chapter form in chronicling James’s travels on a bus to visit twins, in a taxi to visit Auntie, in the car to go to the fair, and walking to a play date. What makes these tales unique is the childlike voice Schwartz employs in her simple repetitive narrative, emphasizing the colors, toys, sounds, foods, places, and animals that young children find remarkable. An adult, for example, may not remember mistakenly turning the windshield wipers “on and off, on and off, on and off.” For James, however, it might turn out to be the most memorable part of the day. Each vignette ends with the question—“And what do you think James liked best?”—along with four choices guaranteed to evoke reader participation such as, “Was it the corn on the cob? Or the green snake? Or the train? Or was it the windshield wipers?” The cartoon-like pen-and-ink drawings complemented with lively colored detail are sure to appeal to young children. Especially amusing are “Auntie’s funny hair” and Mommy’s reaction when James and his playmate throw toy fruit down the stairs. (Picture book. 2-5)