Mushroom in the rain

A rain-soaked ant takes refuge under a mushroom, which expands to shelter several of his waterlogged friends. According to PW , ``The creators of The Chick and the Duckling have scored another triumph.'' Ages 3-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

One day an ant was caught in the rain"" and hid under a mushroom waiting for it to stop. Soon a butterfly comes along seeking shelter, and though ""there is barely room for one,"" the ant moves over and lets him in. Then one by one a mouse, a sparrow and a rabbit (fleeing from a fox) squeeze in, each in a mobile series of six small pictures per page. When the rain stops and everyone comes out from under (all full of Aruego's bouncy brightness) they all wonder how the five of them had managed to fit in, but as the last double-page closeup of not only greige but also orange, yellow, pink, violet, blue and green fungi happily reminds us, mushrooms grow when it rains. Sparkling, expansive fun, sure to be a runaway story hour success. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.