LET'S WORK SMARTER

In Mitropoulos’ illustrated children’s book, a cast of animal friends use funds from selling food at a farmers’ market to renovate an old playground.

Hardhat-wearing Mouse takes charge of the playground project by arranging everyone into teams and delegating jobs. Kangaroo, Frog, and Kitten are to plant a new flower garden; Bunny, Giraffe and Bear will paint the fence; and Mole, Grasshopper and Cheetah are tasked with cleaning the sandbox. The animals enthusiastically get to work, but unexpected challenges soon arise. When Frog complains that digging holes is hard and messy, Kitten, undaunted, exclaims: “We just need to work harder!” Digging faster, they unfortunately send dirt flying everywhere. Overwhelmed by the leaves and sticks littering the sandbox, the second group also vows to work more intensely. They stack debris into tall piles, but the leaves scatter in a breeze. Meanwhile, Bunny and Giraffe discover that painting a background around Bear’s colorful swirls and stars is challenging. They, too, resolve to work harder, but end up making a big paint-splattered mess. Observing the scene, Mouse realizes the playground is far from finished, and everyone looks tired. “Instead of working harder, let’s try working smarter,” Mouse declares at lunch, and they encourage everyone to find ways to simplify the projects. They do so by using helpful supplies, and by dividing and planning out their work. Early readers will be inspired by the characters’ teamwork and commitment to beautifying an outdoor space. Mitropoulos’ text clearly conveys age-appropriate lessons about setting and completing goals in easy-to-understand language, although some solutions are a bit too convenient. For instance, a notebook to plan a design appears out of nowhere, as does a shed full of supplies. The simple, upbeat story, complemented by Watson’s cute, full-color illustrations of the animals and of sunny scenery, such the bustling market, makes for a fun read-along.

A wholesome tale that emphasizes camaraderie and finding creative solutions.