When a book begins A book of poems

Six whimsical entries begin with a refrain of "When a..." in a new book with poems from Dashielle. In "When a Dog Drives," Alarcon's bright, sketchbook-like artwork depicts a child with terrified, wide eyes taken on a wild ride ("I ask very nicely for him to slow down./ He is more careful, but wears a big frown"). Other poems describe a confused daisy, a cranky crow who visits the clouds, a wrinkled rainbow, and a forlorn buttermilk donut. Simple rhyming verses, most set in four-line stanzas, contain a pleasant singsong cadence. Together, art and lines amplify the whimsy, showing images including a cloud therapist and a depressed donut. Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 7--9. (Mar.)

Verses to brighten gloomy times, even for a forgetful flower, a cranky crow, and a depressed pastry. Dashielle offers sweet relief for both readers and the subjects of her poems, from a holeless buttermilk doughnut feeling as "flat as a pancake" to a lost and confused flower suffering an identity crisis ("Am I a tulip? Or maybe a poppy? / Am I original or maybe a copy?")--and for anyone else who's likewise down, such as the sad-looking, dark-skinned child in the opening illustration. For that youngster, at least, riding in a car with a reckless canine driver who howls out the "Bow Wow Blues" elicits a smile. Alternatively, and more feasibly for many, finding that clouds are good listeners lightens the mood of a grumpy crow in one poem, keeping busy indoors in another staves off boredom when "rain reigns" outside, and a glance into a mirror pool along with a hug from Mom is just what that little flower needs to become properly (and literally) grounded. The poet's generally simple language and unforced rhymes lend readability to the verses, and in Alarcon's illustrations, a racially diverse cast of children and adults mingles cozily with scenes of flora, fauna, and (as mentioned) pastry…all with human faces. Sensitive, sympathetic, and imaginative.(Picture book/poetry. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.