Reviews

PreS-Gr 2-- Jessie, an active girl of nine or so, is growing out of her clothes, and the members of her large and loving family get carried away in their eagerness to provide her with a new wardrobe. In this humorous suburban variation on ``The House that Jack Built,'' Grandpa gets things started off with a pair of new shoes, Dad offers ``socks from the local shops,'' and Mom buys ``a skirt that won't show the dirt.'' As each of Jessie's relatives gets into the act, the rhythmic cumulative tale builds momentum. Brightly colored torn-paper collages fill appealing double-page illustrations portraying Jessie increasingly laden down with everyone else's idea of the perfect addition to her outfit. Finally, shedding all her mismatched apparel, she tactfully speaks her mind: ``You're all so kind that I just hate to be mean, but please, would one of you buy me some jeans?'' Grandpa grants her wish and Jessie zooms off on her skateboard, in her new jeans, happily unencumbered. Either in story hour or reading on their own, youngsters will enjoy seeing Jessie's free spirit triumph over her family's overly enthusiastic good intentions. --Carey Ayres, Port Washington Public Library, NY

A lilting, cumulative text accompanies Mullins's vibrant torn-paper artwork in this apparel-buying spree. Ages 3-6. (Aug.)