Paulina P. (for Petersen)

Building a picture book around the charm of a single letter is a tall order, and despite some very energetic artwork, this alliterative celebration of all things P feels overlong. Paulina P., the book's P-obsessed heroine, is described in puffy patter (“paisley patterns, poetry,/ name anything that starts with P,/ Paulina loves it—/ INSTANTLY!”). She plays pirate (“Out of my way, Putrid Plankton!”), practices painting and can't understand her friend Penny Lee's interest in hearts (“Preposterous!” Paulina P. sputters. “Hearts have nothing to do with the letter P!”). In contrast to the one-note text, Cinar's (The Day It All Blew Away ) spreads are varied, lighthearted and full of smiles, with a plethora of big, soft crayon lines, photographs and speech balloon dialogue. Paulina P. and her friends are stick figures with rotund bodies, freckles and cat ears; they're emotive even when they're not talking. Nascent self-awareness finally helps Paulina P. realize that not everyone needs to share her obsession (“But what if really I'm a pest/ that even monsters did detest?!”). Best for those with a penchant for wordplay. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)