"Here's to the bugs! / The Leggy People! / Bugs! / Here's to the sting-y ones. / The weird and the wing-y ones." This chipper if insubstantial rhyming tribute to birds, fish, bears, insects, and, finally, people reverberates with enthusiasm and buoyant imagery. The bright, cartoonlike illustrations of happy creatures echo the singsong text's inclusive good cheer.

<p>Elliott's cup runneth over with good cheer in this rhymed toast to peoplea"and not just the two-legged variety, either: "Here's to the birds! / The Feather People! / Birds! / Here's to the who-o-o ones, / The cock-a-doodle-doo ones, / Their breasts as red as fire ones, / The sitting on a wire ones. / Oh, I love the birds!" Each verse follows the same pattern, as he goes on to salute fish ("The Bubble People"), bears ("The Hungry People"), bugs, cats, dogs, cows, and frogs in turn, coming around at last to "The People People," and closing with "The You Person! / You!" Cecil's full-bleed illustrations reflect all this unfettered exuberance, with bright cartoon scenes of grinning young folk surrounded by animals and placed in outdoorsy settings. Reminiscent of Flora McDonnell's I Love Animals (1994) for its intensity of feeling, but more articulate in its expression, this will have young readers and listeners calling for another round. (Picture book. 6-8)</p>

PreS-Gr 3-A life-affirming look at nature's beings. The lively, rhyming text celebrates different creatures, including "The Feather People" (birds), "The Bubble People" (fish), "The Leggy People" (bugs), "The Purring People" (cats), "The Giving People" (cows), and "The People People" (humans). Finally, the focus is placed on readers: "And here's to you!/The You Person!/You!/Here's to the sweet you,/The messy and the neat you,/The funny-way-you-eat you-. The total and complete you." The effervescent, entertaining cartoons, done in oils, perfectly complement the narrative. Together, the words and pictures create a powerful package that conveys a sense of appreciation for all living things.-Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.