Little Orange Submarine (mini Version)

SOS--A whale is trapped in a fishing net! This looks like a job for... the little orange submarine. From the creator of other exciting, interactive minibooks on things that go (Little Green Tow Truck, Big Silver Space Shuttle, Big Blue Engine, etc.) comes a story that takes readers under the deep blue sea. When Ocean Lab radios the little orange submarine for help with a whale, the sub promptly responds. Young readers slide a tab to make the sub dive under the surface. Turning one wheel reveals something... fishy... on the sonar screen, and shifting another tab uncovers another deep-sea critter lurking in the seaweed--an octopus! But still no whale, until readers help the little submarine switch on the main beam to light up the seabed--and thar she blows. Now it's just a matter of using the mechanical arms to snip away the net, and the whale and the little orange submarine are free to go their separate ways.

Ken Wilson-Max knows what grabs the interest of so many little readers--planes, trains, automobiles, and boats. Kids will love going along for a ride on the feisty sub, especially when they can manipulate the controls themselves. As with Wilson-Max's other interactive books, the main complaint might be that the flaps and tabs aren't quite sturdy enough for the eager fingers of his young fans. Still, if the mark of a well-loved book is its dog-eared quality, there's no doubt about these titles. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter