"A kiss means I love you, a wave means hello, a smile means I'm happy, a tug means let's go!" This attractive picture book pairs brief, rhyming lines of text with color photos of young children expressing themselves through sounds (hurray, yum, roar) and body language (a shiver, a yawn, a hug). Each page features a close-up of a child, sometimes with an adult or a stuffed animal. Representing a broad multicultural selection of boys and girls, the portraits offer images of children who generally look at ease before the camera. The rhythmic lines of text thread the photos together in a natural sounding way. Parents and teachers could use the book to spark conversations about feelings or, more formally, as a teaching tool for kids who have trouble figuring out others' reactions based on body language and other visual cues. Either way, this inviting picture book offers opportunities for observation, empathy, and open-ended discussion.

A cheer means I did it! Hurray! I am proud! / A shush means be quiet... / that's a little too loud!

Color photographs of children expressing different emotions and enacting certain situations introduce the idea of "reading" body language to the youngest children. Humans communicate wants, needs and emotions through facial expressions and body language as well as orally. The book promotes the ability to decipher them as a critical skill for children to develop as they explore and have contact with a wide group of individuals. Through up-close photographs and rhyming text, tots see a multicultural cast of children their age smiling, laughing, pouting and expressing anger. One boy extends a toy as an invitation to share; another, finger to lips, requests quiet, illustrating the nuances of a gesture or hand motion. One odd omission is an example of the basic feeling of fear. Some entries are more successful than others, and this reflects the medium: It is difficult to represent shivering, for example, in a still photograph. The rhyme encourages page-turns ("A kiss means I love you, / a wave means hello, / a smile means I'm happy, / a tug means let's go!"), although it stutters at one point and will require practice before reading aloud. Despite small flaws, the book is a solid introduction to a range of human expressions and the concept of nonverbal communication. (Picture book. 2-5)

PreS Allen and Futran have created a book with a purpose that is also fun to read. Bright, close-up photos pair well with the text to illustrate different facial expressions and body language. The basics are covered: "A laugh means it's funny, a cry means I'm sad." A few less-common examples are also included. "A shiver means I'm chilly/(please warm me up quick). A sniffle,/a sneeze,/and a cough/mean I'm sick." Each expression or gesture is easy to see in the large, uncluttered photos of very young children. The rhythm of the text is bouncy and easy to read aloud. This title will work well in a program or one-on-one. Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY