THE LITTLE SCARECROW BOY
by Margaret Wise Brown & illustrated by David Diaz
Diaz softens his palette and simplifies his lines for a story from Brown, about growing up and steadfast parental love. The little scarecrow boy practices the frightening faces the old man scarecrow makes daily to keep the crows away, but the child remains at home while the adult goes to work. The boy sneaks into the field and plies his trade, but one scary face after the other fails to keep the crows at bay. The sixth and final face does the trick—but was the old man scarecrow nearby, helping the neophyte? Children who don’t mind the creepy contortions of the scarecrows’ fiercest faces will love the repetitions of the text, while the happy oranges, reds, and yellows bring sunshine to every page. The deceptively simple story conveys a powerful and reassuring message. (Picture book. 3-7)