Reviews
On the Town: A Community Adventure
by Judith Caseley
Ages 5-8. When Charlie's teacher asks her students to visit people and places in their community, his mother takes him on a walk through the neighborhood. He draws pictures of all the community helpers he sees along the way: teacher, police officer, barber, pharmacist, bank teller. Throughout the day, Charlie visits many parts of his community, but only at bedtime does he realize that the best part of the neighborhood is his own home. Written from a child's perspective, the story has a cheerful tone and enough variety to keep the expedition interesting. The lively ink, watercolor, and colored-pencil illustrations are full of intriguing details that children will explore as the text is read aloud. Caseley's latest will receive a warm welcome from librarians combing the shelves for good picture books to support community helper units.
Carolyn Phelan for Booklist.