THE THINK-UPS!

Two children stuck inside on a rainy day use their imaginations to stave off boredom.

Having exhausted their usual indoor activities, small gal pals Kiki and Anna stare out the wet window despondently. But then, in a stroke of inspiration, Kiki invents a special game: “We could play the Think-Ups!” The rules are simple: Think of something and it will appear. Anna is skeptical at first, but soon the girls are conjuring up bunnies, octopuses, koalas, and even a moose! They initially revel in their wild animal apparitions until the mischievous menagerie takes over the house, making a mess in the kitchen and causing general chaos. Luckily, the children think up a way to restore order just as the sun comes out…but their imaginary troubles aren’t over yet! Alexander’s exuberant text lends itself perfectly to reading aloud, with playful verbal flourishes such as “wriggling, giggling octopuses.” The digital illustrations, executed in a mostly pastel palette, have a hand-drawn feel and effectively convey the hilarity, charm, and unbridled energy of young children’s play. Kiki and Anna’s rapidly shifting emotional extremes are dead-on and offer additional points for discussion. Occasional wordless spreads give readers a chance to take a breath during the make-believe mayhem and soak in all the details. Attentive readers will notice clues peppered throughout that foreshadow some of the hijinks. All characters are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A deftly executed homage to the power children possess to imagine away a dreary day.