Paul, Alison. Plan, The. Barbara Lehman, Illus. Picture Book. Houghton, 11/2015. [32]pp. $17.99. 978-0-544-28333-6. OUTSTANDING. GRADES PRE-1.
A young farm girl is determined to fly in her mother’s old plane and, with her dog, hatches a plan to convince her widower father to help make her dream a reality. The text of this book consists of just twenty different words, with only one letter difference between them, making this a good choice for new readers and preschool storytimes alike. The crisp and uncluttered watercolor, gouache, and ink illustrations often resemble comic panels, with three or four different squares of illustration on some spreads. The words and pictures work together seamlessly to convey a wide range of emotions and to tell a surprisingly nuanced story.
Melissa Morwood, Palo Alto Public Library