Busy at Daycare Head to Toe - Hardcover

Recommended reading for any youngster who is apprehensive about a new or upcoming day-care experience, the Demuths' (Joel: Growing Up a Farm Man) cheerful photo-essay focuses on a smoothly run center attended by a multiracial crew of preschoolers. Superimposed against neutral-toned drawings by the featured children, the photos include an attractive, balanced mix of group shots and close-ups, candids and posed pictures, portrayals of high-energy play and of activities requiring quiet concentration. Occasional circular and oval photos add visual rhythms, while colored triangles set atop corners of rectangular shots create the impression of holding photos in place. There are no tears and no squabbling: these preschoolers are shown as one big, happy family-away-from-family. The rhymed text, unfortunately, is less stimulating. The conceit has promise?describing how legs, arms and other body parts are kept occupied at day care?but the verses are singsongy and sometimes hackneyed: "Your eyes are busy as can be,/ so many, many things to see:/ puzzles, building blocks, and toys,/ day-care friends, both girls and boys." On the other hand, the familiarity of the rhyme scheme isn't likely to vex the target audience, for whom this book will present plenty of vicarious pleasures. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

PreS?A colorful and lively book for anyone seeking to prepare and acclimate young children to the idea of day care. With its upbeat and positive tone and encouragement of active participation, this title is also a natural choice for library story times. The layout has some of the flavor of a photograph album or scrapbook. Full-color photographs of ethnically diverse children, arranged over art that resembles preschoolers' work, complement the happy, busy tone of the rhyming text. Youngsters are shown fully engaged in a variety of typical activities. Issues such as saying good-bye to parents, making friends, sharing, etc., are not addressed; Fred Rogers's Going to Day Care (Putnam, 1985; o.p.) is the better choice for exploring the psychological aspects of attending school. However, day care is very much a standard part of the early childhood experience in today's society and most parents will appreciate this new title.?Melissa Gross, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.