WHAT JOE SAW

Poor little Joe! He's always being scolded or teased for lagging behind when the class lines up for their walk to feed the ducks. But the teacher and the other children don't know what Joe is busily observing while he dawdles. The answers to the question of what Joe sees are given in a rich, vivid pictures—ants on their way to the anthill, a chipmunk poised on a log, a tortoise creeping through the grass, a sleepy-eyed toad, and, most miraculously of all, some ducklings hatching from their shells—that are sure to captivate readers. Often, the drawings replace the words entirely, making this a quiet question-and-answer game the reader can play. Gentle and rich in visual imagery, this is a fine, beautifully illustrated story that unpretentiously underscores the value of taking the time to really see. (Picture book. 3+)