Generous Jefferson Bartleby Jones Forman — George Brown

K-Gr 2-- In cloying verse, readers are introduced to Jeff; his two friends; his father; and his father's live-in friend, Joe. Jeff thinks he's lucky to have two dads, each of whom does special activities with him. Because his friends' fathers are busy, Jeff loans them each one of his. Later, sitting alone in his room, he realizes he shouldn't have been so generous. Of course, his dads and his friends come home early and take Jeff to the mall for ice-cream sodas. While the message is noble--children of gay parents are well cared for and happy--the execution is pedestrian. The relentless rhyme and upbeat tone become tiresome, and the black-and-white line drawings featuring multiethnic kids are merely adequate. --Karen K. Radtke, Milwaukee Public Library