A Little Bit of Courage

K-Gr 2–In this second book about the Ploofers, Little One, the smallest of them, is scared to join the rest in flight. After a pep talk from Toasty, Little One feels brave enough to fly and join the group. The Ploofers look like gray whoopie cushions with happy faces. They turn upside down and “shoof” colored gas out of a valve atop their heads. The gas poofs join together into a rainbow cloud, which the Ploofers fly on top of. The concept is as bizarre as the artwork is adorable; the Ploofers are sweet and expressive. Little One’s fear and concern are illustrated by his large frown and deflated shape. The text begins with an omniscient narrator explaining what a Ploofer is, but soon shifts to dialogue from the Ploofers and their toast-shaped friend. This switch is a little confusing, but like Little One’s attempt at flight, it sails smoothly after a bumpy takeoff.