Being Careful with Strangers — Kate Petty

PreS-Gr 2--Being Careful with Strangers involves a man with a puppy who frequents Sam's school playground. All of the conventional warnings and lessons are here, presented in a non-threatening style; however, the information is intertwined with the story in a way that preschoolers might find confusing without adult input. Sam and little sister Jenny are Going to the Dentist , where Sam's teeth are drilled, filled, cleaned, and X-rayed (baby Jenny's are just counted). Each process is explained in simple terms. While there is no mention of daily dental hygiene, the book ends with Mom buying apples instead of candy to take care of the newly cleaned teeth. Kopper's somewhat loose style of illustration does not lend itself to accurate pictures of the dental instruments and renders Sam's mouthful of teeth rather grotesque. While some might find Sam's easy acceptance of the dentist's drill a little misleading, this is a serviceable addition. Splitting Up tells of Maria's unhappiness about and gradual adjustment to her parents' separation. While Petty does an excellent job of explaining the changes experienced by the family, the ease with which her characters adjust is slightly misleading. Dinosaurs Divorce (Joy St, 1988) by Laurene and Marc Brown is a more matter-of-fact approach. Staying Overnight is the most successful, chronicling Sam's first sleepover. Petty does a competent job of pinpointing the fears of preschoolers in unfamiliar situations, presenting them in a straightforward and reassuring manner. Some Things Are Different, Some Things Are the Same (Albert Whitman, 1986) by Marya Dantzer-Rosenthal goes into more detail about the differences between households, but doesn't include an overnight stay. All of the books are marked by Petty's insight into the thoughts of small children encountering new experiences. Kopper's blunt-featured characters are done in pleasing, realistic watercolors. --Lucy Young Clem, Evansville Vanderburgh County Public Library, IN