Nelly Gnu and Daddy Too

PreS-Gr 1—Move over, Mama Llama, it's Daddy Gnu's turn to shine! This book features Llama Llama's best friend, Nelly Gnu, as she and her father spend some quality time together. The arrival of a new high chair and playpen for Baby Gnu means large, empty cardboard boxes in the living room, and Daddy Gnu knows just what to do with them. He and his daughter put their heads together and transform the boxes into a perfect playhouse for Nelly. They measure, draw, cut, and glue. "But Nelly thinks it's not quite done…/It needs some flowers, just a few./Time to shop with Daddy Gnu." They head off to the hardware store and buy some paint and brushes and a mini flashlight. They "paint the house with brick designs./Big bright flowers,/climbing vines," then clean up, and, yes, Daddy cooks dinner and reads stories, too. He really is a dream come true. The big, bold paintings are full of warm, homey details, and the animal characters have loads of charm. Who knew that gnus were so adorable?—Luann Toth, School Library Journal