Catch!

A game of catch turns into a daylong attunement practice in this playfully conceptual picture book from Cooke (The Magic Callaloo) and Wilson-Max (the Wonder Kids series). As Mom and Kiona play on a sunny afternoon, the child appears eager to participate, standing with arms outstretched to receive a ball that quickly proves too big. The two try alternatives, but each object has a drawback: a berry is too small to see, a hard apple hurts, and a balloon and bath bubble pop. “No problem,” says Mom each time—“Let’s find something else.” Kiona initially embraces the spirit of experimentation, but after a long day, frustration takes over. Happily, Mom has one more idea: she blows Kiona a kiss. “Catch!” proclaims the typography once more, leading to Kiona’s snagging it on her nose, where it remains “forever and ever.” Acrylic illustrations keep things beautifully basic throughout, as bold outlines and saturated colors give off the feel of fresh tempera paint, while simple, direct prose creates a clever arc that echoes catch at its simplest—just two people sharing moments back and forth. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. Ages 3–6. (May)