The Think-Ups

It’s raining, to the dismay of two children, but pale-skinned Kiki, who sports a pair of bunny ears, has an idea: “We could play the Think-Ups!” she says. “All you have to do is think up a Think-Up and it will appear!” Her first attempt conjures a number of bunnies, which hop around the rug. “I’ll be Kiki Flower Blossom the vet, and you can be Bob, my helper!” she tells Anna, who has light brown skin. In no time at all the house is filled with more Think-Ups: a moose (“Just one, but a very large one”), “wriggling, giggling octopuses,” and hungry koalas who gnaw on everything in sight. Kiki pays less attention to the outcomes than does Anna, who has her own desires and realizes that things are getting out of hand: “Oh, Kiki! What have you done?... And please stop calling me Bob!” Fortunately, Kiki’s just as practiced at getting out of trouble as she is getting into it. Digital spreads by Alexander (A Little Bit Different) utilize charcoal-style outlines and soft colors to render a sweet visual idiom in chaotic domestic scenes. A fast-moving story with two high-spirited heroes, Alexander’s tale prizes imagination, creativity, and quick thinking. Ages 3–7. (Jan.)