A colorful picture book offers readers a collection of twenty-four previously unpublished poems celebrating children's curiosity and wonder. The author of Goodnight Moon wrote scores of poems for children in her short lifetime, many of which were left unpublished until now. In this collection of 24 poems, Margaret Wise Brown's virtuosity shines through with verses about simple childhood pleasures and sorrows. Days later, readers young and old will find themselves muttering: "Hark to the sound / Of the sea-slung gong / Ding Dong Dong / Ding Dong Dong" or "Jig Big / jig little / jig little / Jig Big / Jig like a big PIG / dancing a jig." Some poems are clearly more refined than others; if Brown were alive, she undoubtedly would have smoothed the rougher edges in "Pussycat and the Pumpkin," for example. Teri L. Weidner's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations in "Spring Madness" and "Colors" are sweet and natural, although "The Monkey Man" and "Christmas Song" are less appealing. When all is said and done, though, fans of the legendary Margaret Wise Brown will be pleased at another glimpse into her talented, imaginative world. (Ages 4 and older) --Emilie Coulter reSchool-Grade 1--Beautiful paintings enhance this collection by one of America's best-known picture-book authors. Many of the poems are lovely, with a memorable and graceful simplicity. "Remember and never forget/Remember this/Your first snowstorm/White/And quiet in the night/And/Your first swim/The water was wet/And soft around you/And/The first hot day/When water came out of your skin/And rolled down you/You were so hot." Not all the selections are successful, though. Some read more like fragments or drafts, interesting yet not quite pulled together. Lines like, "Where the shining beetle traffics pass/Near the roots of the long green grass" don't quite have the rhythm or economy of Brown's best works. Weidner's watercolors are touched with pastel and seem to have an inner glow. Her landscapes and animals are more lifelike than some of her people, but she is a gifted illustrator whose sweet and lyrical work matches the best poems here. Considering the pictures, the author's reputation, and the quality of much of the writing, this book should find a home in most good-sized collections. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Ages 4-6. Twenty-four short poems by Margaret Wise Brown are published for the first time in this slender volume and illustrated with watercolor, pastel, and colored pencil artwork. Leonard Marcus contributes a one-page foreword, commenting authoritatively on Brown as a writer of picture books and poetry. The collection is a little uneven, but many of the poems, including the 14-line "In the Woods" ("The silence of logs, the coldness of stones / Deep in the deep green wood alone"), create evocative sounds and memorable images. "Little Lost Kitten" ("Little lost kitten / Lost in the rain / I look for you / Over and over again.") has the timeless quality of a nursery rhyme. Each poem is superimposed on a white-bordered, full- or double-page illustration. With rounded forms, soft shading, and warm colors, the artwork creates pleasant settings for the poetry. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Margaret Wise Brown 's contribution to children's literature is legendary. Her many popular titles include Goodnight Moon , The Runaway Bunny and The Little Fur Family and she was one of the best-selling children's writers of all time. Used Book in Good Condition