Steppin' Out

Steppin' Out: Jaunty Rhymes for Playful Times. Lin Oliver. Illustrated by Tomie DePaola. 2017. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: When I open my front door,/ There's a whole world to explore.

Premise/plot: The book is a collection of poetry written to be shared with little ones--preschoolers to be exact. The common theme is 'steppin' out.' These are poems about little ones experiencing the world around them: going to the library, eating out, playing outside, visiting family, going up and down on elevators and escalators, going to the car wash, shopping at the mall, getting a hair cut, buying groceries, going to the beach, playing on the playground, sharing with other kids, being in a dance class, going to preschool or daycare. These are all common-place experiences, ordinary moments that Lin Oliver has used as inspiration for her verses.

My thoughts: I think my favorite poem may have been "At the Mall." In this one, a little girl is shopping with her Mom at the mall. She's told she can pick ONE THING and only one thing. She picks out a pink koala bear, and, when she gets home, she shares it with her baby sister. Is it realistic? Maybe, maybe not. Is it cute and sweet? Definitely!

From Playground Fling:
The swing
is a fling
in
the
air.

From Rainy Day at Grandpa's:
There's nothing like a rainy day
When streets are seas of puddles,
And afterward a cup of tea
with snuggly Grandpa cuddles.

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews