Wet

PreS-Gr 1—Deceptively simple lines and soft hues bring to life this picture book about how it feels to get wet. Sookocheff, illustrator of the "Buddy & Earl" series, employs acrylic, gouache, and hand-lettering techniques to immerse readers in the story of a nameless young boy who experiences myriad ways of getting wet. For example, the narrative begins with him at a swimming pool, slowly dipping his toe into the water before doing a cannonball into the deep end. "We like getting all-the-way wet," he tells readers, "but some people just get halfway wet." Each subsequent scene reveals new comparisons for children to ponder. Other similarities and differences, such as emotions, are explored using wetness as a springboard. When the young boy splashes in a puddle for fun, joy clearly visible on his face, his smile quickly turns to tears when he falls backward in the mud. While the splash, puddle, and tears are all wet, the feelings they invoke are quite different. Though few words are shared on the page, Sookocheff provides the perfect amount of space for reflection and conversation between children and adults.