A little girl and her mother board a bus for a day of errands, and at each store something special is placed in the girl's pocketbook. The child leaves the bag on the bus, but in a conclusion satisfying to young children, the friendly bus driver returns the purse. Fresh illustrations enhance the simple story.

When they board the bus to town, Mama takes her big blue pocketbook; the narrator's pocketbook is just like it—but green and empty. So it's all ready for memorabilia of the trip: punched tickets, a lollipop from the bank, a form from the insurance company, where she's allowed to use the typewriter, a tiny calendar from the cleaner, new crayons. The little girl is so sleepy, though, that she leaves it all on the bus. No problem: on his return trip, the driver drops it in the mailbox, where the child later leaves a thank you for him, drawn with her new crayons. A cozy, satisfying tale of an orderly world—simply told and illustrated with pictures in which the cheerful faces and tidy, spacious design nicely reflect the text's sunny flavor. (Picture book. 3-7)"

PreS-Gr 1-- The nameless first-person narrator of this pleasant picture book is proud to carry a big green pocketbook just like her mother's blue one. As they set out for a trip to town, the little girl's purse is empty, but that is soon remedied. From the purple lollipop acquired at the bank, to the pocket calendar given at the dry cleaners and the new crayons from the drugstore, each stop means something new for the big green purse. All seems lost after the return trip, when the girl leaves her purse behind on the bus, but the friendly driver saves the day. This simple slice-of-life story is straightforward and convincingly told. The child's view is believably self-centered, yet her observations and activities will immediately spark recognition in readers. Bond's cheerful illustrations show a lively youngster exploring and enjoying the world around her. The pictures enhance the text by offering colorful glimpses of small-town life with a multicultural cast of characters. Those seeking an amusing everyday adventure will find it here. --Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh