Ice Cream Face

Ice cream elicits an impressive repertoire of expressions from this book's narrator, a self-named "ice cream kid." Impatiently waiting at a candy-striped ice cream parlor, queueing with children and adults of varying skin tones, the brown-skinned child clutches a ticket and scowls at the "ice cream faces all around." (These include "the bearded baby," an infant with ice scream smeared on their chin.) But when patience is rewarded with a big scoop of red, yellow and blue--a classic "Superman" swirl--"my face melts into something sweet." Then comes the high drama of a brain freeze, followed by a "sad face" and full-throated howl of despair when the rapidly melting scoop falls to the sidewalk with a "KERPLOP!" But the community of ice cream enthusiasts is supportive and sharing, and the child quickly attains a new cone made from others' portions. Sheffield (Brick by Brick) employs photographs--most evocatively of the coveted ice cream scoops--digital painting, and subtly mottled collage in this amiable meditation on the joys of a rich emotional life starring a funny, self-aware protagonist who wears their ice-cream-loving heart on their sleeve. Ages 3-5. Agent: Laura Rennert, Andrea Brown Literary. (June)