LAMBSLIDE

When three self-centered young lambs hear the word “landslide,” they mistake it for “lambslide.”

The lambs live on an idyllic farm with the Farmers and their three children. The daughter, Nicolette, is running for class president. Her enthusiastic mom tells her: “You’ll win by a landslide!” The lambs believe everything on the farm happens for their benefit and are excited about the new lambslide, but their mother corrects them and says plaintively: “Now will you please let me finish eating the lawn?” After considering the other animals’ fun (pigs cavorting in mud and horses riding out with the humans), the lambs return to their mom, and she suggests polling the other farm inhabitants about a lambslide. They ask a chicken, a goat, and a pig for their support, then the humans. Nicolette, an experienced campaigner, makes signs. An election is held. “When all the votes were counted, the lambslide had won by a landslide.” The Farmers and their farmworker (all white) construct the slide, with everyone working. Patchett’s first children’s book is pleasantly old-fashioned, with some modern touches: Nicolette and her mother work as hard as the boys and men, and Nicolette gets involved in politics early! Preiss Glasser carries the book with her slyly humorous ink-and-watercolor illustrations, crafting distinct personalities for all her animal characters.

A good story about cooperation—and the democratic process.