A little girl with a Dutch bob meets a black sheep and asks her the traditional question. Yes, in fact, she does have three bags full, and she proceeds to go into considerable detail about what shall be done with them: "One for a hat, / and one for mittens / and one for a messy muddle / for the kittens." Furthermore, the wool will be used for a bird's nest, to make a sweater for Bo Peep, and to create little sweaters for tiny sheep. That would seem to be enough, but the girl keeps asking the question, and the sheep spins a fairy-tale world full of answers, including making a wool beard to disguise one of the Three Little Pigs from the wolf. The whole book om its clever concepts and rhyming text to its adorable textured-collage artwork fun, but watching the black sheep go from being fat and furry to nearly naked after giving away her wool will make children laugh out loud. Teachers might like to use the accompanying song, set to the traditional tune, for a play or skits.

Toddler-PreS A variation on the classic nursery rhyme that tells the story of a sheep giving away all of her wool to a little girl who knits. The prose sticks to the rhyme and rhythm of the song and follows the animal as her wool is used to make mittens for the three little kittens, a swing and a vest for birds, clothes for Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue, some items for the three little pigs, and blankets for the old woman who lives in a shoe with her children. As the story progresses the sheep grows less and less fluffy, and at the end she has no wool left to give. However, she is rewarded when her friend gives her a handmade sweater, scarf, socks, and a hat. Cabrera's story is singable, and the bright, simple, acrylic illustrations are sweet, depicting all of the characters enjoying their wool products. Children will giggle when they see images like the fake beard made for one of the three pigs and when the sheep is shaved down to her bare skin. Cabrera's references to other nursery rhyme characters come out primarily in the illustrations, which older children are more likely to pick up on. While toddlers can enjoy the song and illustrations in Baa, Baa, Black Sheep , preschool audiences may have a greater appreciation for the book's humor and literary references, making it a great storytime selection. VERDICT A first purchase for most library collections, but especially for those seeking dynamic, singable books for preschool storytime. Liz Anderson, D.C. Public Library