The Yellow Cab

K-Gr 1—Once the fastest little yellow taxi in town, Jack, who now has older, slower wheels, is sent airborne as he literally flies off a city bridge in response to a travel poster-"Come to Brazil!"-landing in a tropical forest surrounded by colorful parrots and howler monkeys. Jack is a fun-loving, coconut-ball player and immediately hits it off with his newfound simian friends. A chameleon playfully imitates the cab with his own checkered and yellow form, but powerful giant excavators frighten the animals and dwarf Jack, hiding in the deep blues and greens of the rainforest. Pfister's watery, painted impression of the trees and brightly blocked contrasting yellows of the construction behemoths direct readers' eyes from cityscape to forest-and back again-as Jack suggests a city cab's alternative to "tearing up the forest." While support for the environment comes across loud and clear, images of Jack's digging-equipment acquaintances lack the personality or warmth of his tropical animal friends. An additional purchase.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX