Blue Apple in Kirkus Reviews, May 1st issue

Bigger Than Daddy
Ziefert enters Charlotte Zolotow territory with an intimate give-and-take between little Edward, who wishes he were bigger, and his father as they walk home from the playground, engage in a bit of playful role reversal ("You've been a bad boy," said Edward. "And you haven't finished your juice.") and then get ready for bed. In distinctly childlike crayon-and-cut-paper pictures, Kreloff depicts the pair with light brown skin, frizzy hair and smiles. Young readers and listeners, whether from single-parent households like this or otherwise, will smile too. (Picture book. 4-6)

Me! Me! ABC
In a terse alphabet for the self-absorbed, Bergen digitally adds on occasional background or detail to 26 close-up views of the vinyl animal characters she manufactures, which appear with such demanding captions as "Admire me," "Buckle me," "E-mail me," "Gimme!," "Kiss me," and "Pay attention to me." This last sums up the whole message here, which is certainly one that most preschoolers will enthusiastically endorse. But with oversize heads atop tiny bodies and eyes made from big, sewn-on circles, the dolls look grotesque rather than cute, especially when blown up to nearly full-page size, and lines like "obey me" and "Untie me" add a kinky flavor more suitable for sharing among adults. Use selectively.