cover image Maisy Goes to Bed

Maisy Goes to Bed

Lucy Cousins, Roberto Ed. Schmid. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $13.99 (14pp) ISBN 978-0-316-15832-9

By moving tabs and lifting flaps that manipulate such items as clothes that pull on and off, a toothbrush and a tiny bedtime book with real pages, little ones can help Maisy Mouse prepare for a swim or get ready for bed. Though the action requires a gentle touch and some of the movements may be difficult for small hands, these books with their unusual use of paper mechanics offer a creative approach to basic concepts. Cousins's painting and lettering, reminiscent of a child's use of tempera, provide an air of whimsicality to Maisy's endeavors that will be instantly recognized by children beginning to do daily tasks for themselves. Ages 2-5. (Sept.)