TOBY, WHERE ARE YOU?

From early sunlit morning to candlelit evening, Toby's parents search for him throughout the house. It's all very cozy: They know he's hiding, and they're playing the game with him. Toby is in every picture—behind the fish tank, in the pantry, under the rug. When his parents finally give up, Toby leaps out from under the table, and gets "quite a few kisses." Shown in a fuzzy kind of stippled color, this home is one any child might envy: dragons on the toy chest; sunflowers on the headboard; lively patterns on the rugs; and a profusion of plants, books, and playthings. The house and accoutrements have a vaguely Victorian feel, reflected in the mother's floor-length floral dress—although the father might be wearing Hush Puppies. The family, marmoset- or meerkat-like mammals, have furry features and long tails, which seem right for this soft-focus read-aloud. It's a charmer, for a younger audience than Steig's usual. (Picture book. 3-5)