cover image Tickle

Tickle

Leslie Patricelli. Candlewick, $6.99 (26p) ISBN 978-0-7636-6322-3

Patricelli expands her series of board books starring the emotive, diaper-clad baby most recently seen in Fa La La and Huggy Kissy. "I am not ticklish," declares the baby, hands on hips and a single curly hair sprouting from its head. The arrival of a "tickle monster" (the child's father) suggests otherwise%E2%80%94the following pages are full of giggles, tickles, and "gootchie gootchie goos." It's ideal for mischievous tickle-reading but, importantly, Patricelli devotes a spread to the baby's shouted "STOP!" after which the parents substitute soft kisses for tickles. Available simultaneously: Toot. Up to age 3. Agent: Rebeccca Sherman, Writers House. (Mar.)