Where's Peter?

Book by Kunhardt, Edith

Kindergarten-Grade 2 In a game of pretend that is a nightly ritual, Peter ``disappears'' when he puts a washcloth on his back. When Peter's new baby sister is big enough to bathe in the big bathtub, Peter introduces the game to her. The story seems like an anecdote, and although it is lovingly told, one feels that it's essentially a private story and ``you had to be there.'' The story depends on the illustrations to convey that Peter has not actually disappeared but is sitting in the tub while his parents are searching for him, an approach which may be too abstract for very young children. The simplicity of the illustrations match the tale without overwhelming its gentle quality. Sepia line drawings filled with watercolor give the work a flat, almost naive quality. The story has charm, but in a field crowded with stories in which an older child learns to accept and share with a new baby, this is a marginal addition. Eleanor K. MacDonald, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The creator of Pat the Cat and Danny's Birthday portrays a loving family, in sunny pastel washes, adjusting to a new baby. Each night during his bath, Peter puts a washcloth on his back and becomes "invisible." His parents search for him, but only when he takes off the washcloth do they "see" him again. Once a new baby comes along, Peter feels invisible, but this time he's not playing a game. It's only when baby Abby becomes a little older that Peter finds a way to join in; he puts the washcloth on Abby's back and teaches her the invisible game. A simplicity in the telling and a realistic time frameadjusting to a new baby takes timemake for a quietly persuasive story. Ages 4-up.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.