Strong as a Bear

Idioms and similes are the name of the game in this picture book from author-illustrator Stangl, originally published in Germany, which consists of a succession of animal-themed figures of speech—some familiar (“quiet as a mouse”), others novel (“pillowy as a poodle”). Stangl uses bright colors and bold, blocky shapes to show children acting out each expression, and a big part of the book’s charm derives from the way the animals often get in on the action: as a girl in a polka-dot skirt strides across a page smashing cymbals together, “loud as a rooster,” a rooster perches on her head, crowing right along. On the facing pace, a boy and a monkey reach out to tickle a pair of feet hanging off the edge of a bed, their “mischievous” intent clear. And a “thirsty” baby and a camel are seen drinking milk, while a baby camel does the same, nursing from its mother. The saturated crayon-box colors of Stangl’s prints are downright eye-popping, while the everyday familiarity of the 26 scenes create natural lead-ins for discussion of the emotions, activities, and animals pictured. Ages 4–8. (June)