Lucy and Company

June 13, 2016
In the first of three sweet-natured stories from Dubuc (The Animals’ Ark), Lucy eats her snack on a tree branch, attracting a gang of animal friends: Marcel the mouse, Henry the rabbit, Dot the turtle, and Adrian the snail, who is mistaken for a hazelnut and almost eaten. In the second story, the five go on a treasure hunt. Lucy has the map, and she’s the one with the advice. Small, tender observations add piquancy, as when, instructed to take five steps to the left, there’s a question from Adrian: “Henry steps or Marcel steps?” The snail, Dubuc points out, doesn’t take steps. Simple pencil-and-watercolor pictures show the friends making their way toward the spot, and when Henry digs, sure enough, he finds a present for his birthday. In the third episode, excitement grows as the group discovers three eggs that quickly hatch, later finding an adoptive animal parent whose furry coat and big arms offer the chicks what they need to thrive. Each story features good cheer, tender care among the characters, and the certainty that things will end well. Ages 2–5.

July 1, 2016
An adventurous little girl explores the natural world around her with her animal friends.Three stories make up this sweet, accessible picture book. The stories are separated by yellow pages, making it easy for children to return to their favorite of the three. The cheery watercolors and simply drawn figures will appeal to young children. Lucy, a little white girl with rosy cheeks, heads outdoors for a picnic in the first story, "The Snack." She finds a tree to sit in and invites four friends, Marcel the mouse, Henry the rabbit, Dot the turtle, and Adrian the snail, to join her. Map in hand, Lucy and her friends set out to find a treasure in "The Treasure Hunt," counting steps as they go. In the last story, "The Hatchlings," the friends help three little birds find their way in the world. Lucy figures prominently on nearly every page, surrounded by her smiling, rosy-cheeked friends. A landscape layout of oblong illustrations, gently rounded at the corners, guides readers through Lucy's adventures as she confidently strides across the pages. The text (in uncredited translation) is simple but wry, offering chuckles all the way through. A frontispiece map not unlike Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood shows all of the essential spots where the action takes place. A charming book about the joy of sharing with friends, with the added benefit of reinforcing counting skills. (Picture book. 3-5)

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September 1, 2016

Toddler-PreS-An adventurous girl and her animal friends explore their world of woods, pond, grass, and trees. The first of three stories, "The Snack," is about eating snacks on a comfy tree branch. Marcel the mouse has a lettuce sandwich, but those who look closely will see him sneaking one of Lucy's strawberry biscuits. Dot the turtle has lost her snack. One of Henry the rabbit's hazelnuts is really Adrian the snail, who, after the initial surprise, becomes a new friend. Witty and sweet watercolor and pencil illustrations capture the fun of sharing food and company. In "The Treasure Hunt," all the animals follow Lucy as she searches, with the help of a special map, for buried treasure. In "The Hatchlings," Adrian the snail has found three large eggs. He's not big enough to sit on all of them at once, so Lucy tries and pop! Three bright yellow chicks make a comic escape from their shells. They see Adrian and immediately chirp, "MAMA!" He basks in his maternal duties until he's reminded that the chicks need warmth. A cozy mass of moss is found, but it turns out to be Anton the bear. "PAPA!" the chicks exclaim. This French import is a bit longer than a standard picture book, but its layout and simplicity, along with the division into three chapters, make the pages more readable. VERDICT This lovable collection is a must-read for toddlers and preschoolers.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

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