Kids will love watching Tiptoe Joe lead a group of his animal friends on an adventure. Joe instructs his buddies to be as quiet as possible. They tiptoe—as well as they can on their hooves, claws, and furry feet—through a field, across a fallen log leading over a stream, through the woods, and up a hill. When they arrive at Joe’s, he shows them something very special. It’s his brand-new baby bear cubs, fast asleep!   Tiptoe Joe is a great pick for parents who want to acclimate a child to a new baby brother or sister, and perfect for bedtime or story hour.   Charming full-color illustrations by Laura Rankin bring Tiptoe Joe and the rest of the animals to life. PreS-Gr 1-Tiptoe Joe is a gentle giant of a bear who wears red sneakers so he can minimize the noise he makes. He has a big secret that he wants to share. As he tiptoes through the wilderness, he invites the different animals he encounters to come along. The curious creatures include a donkey, rabbit, turkey, moose, owl, and beaver. Each one takes care to be as quiet as possible, despite having hooves, claws, and a cumbersome body. Their expressions reveal their cheerful expectations. In a long procession, they softly creep along to find the surprise. Because each animal makes a characteristic sound, Tiptoe Joe has to remind them to be quiet. The anticipation grows as the animals travel through the woods, over a stream, and up a hill as they beg to know Joe's secret. Just as the sun begins to set, they arrive at a cave where Tiptoe Joe proudly reveals a mother bear and two cubs. He beams with pride as he shares the exciting news of his newborns. Rankin's bold and bright watercolor illustrations portray charming animal friends. Written in rhyme with catchy repetition, this quiet journey will delight young listeners.-Diane Antezzo, Ridgefield Library, CTα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Tiptoe Joe, a large bear in red sneakers, tiptoes through the rural landscape. As he finds his animal friends, one by one, he urges them to join him. “Donkey, Donkey, come with me. / I know something you should see,” he begins, and Donkey happily follows along, with his hooves making their own sound, “CLOP, CLOP.” One by one, the animals join the line, following the bear up the trail to his den, where they look tenderly on the two cubs sleeping in their mother’s arms. The book’s large format gives plenty of scope for the engaging illustrations, shaded drawings with watercolor washes. With their rounded bodies and friendly faces, the animals make appealing characters. The simple text reads aloud well, and Tiptoe Joe’s repeated lines, along with Donkey’s clops, Rabbit’s thumps, Turkey’s flaps, Moose’s thuds, Owl’s swishes, and Beaver’s slaps, offer plenty of potential for audience participation. Preschool-Grade 1. --Carolyn Phelan Tiptoe fast, tiptoe slow. Say hello to Tiptoe Joe. Today, Tiptoe Joe has a surprise in store for his friends. What is it? Shhhhhhh. It's a secret. Come along and see for yourself! Ginger Foglesong Gibson's friendly, rhythmic, rollicking text about one big bear's top-secret surprise will enchant children of all ages. Perfect for reading at bedtime or for storytime sharing! Ginger Foglesong Gibson is the author of numerous books for children, including the bilingual favorites ¡Fiesta!, Siesta , and ¡Bravo! She graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in early childhood education and now lives in Seattle, Washington. Laura Rankin is the creator of The Handmade Alphabet , a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie . She is the illustrator of many other books for children, including A Balloon for Isabel by Deborah Underwood. She lives in Easton, Maryland.