ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA

In this French import, a pea escapes a bowl and starts an adventure.

While a girl is shelling peas, one accidentally drops to the floor and rolls away. The tiny green sphere then becomes a possibility for lunch for many different animals. As the pea rolls through the house and out the door, a mouse looks at it hungrily, a cat wants to “CRUNCH” it, and a rabbit wishes to “NIBBLE” it. Bolded action words that describe how each animal would consume the pea highlight new vocabulary. Propelled by a baffling momentum, the pea rolls down a path, through some mud (where a pig wants to “MUNCH” it), and into a forest. It is finally swallowed by a hole in the ground. The next harvest season, a new shoot appears, and high atop a tendril, the girl is reunited with the pea. The repeated refrain “ROLL, ROLL, LITTLE PEA” makes the tale roll along as merrily as the little pea itself. Bold graphic designs with thick accent lines are visually arresting. The girl, seen only on the first and last pages, has dark skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sneaky plant life-cycle story for the youngest set.