Tiptoe Joe by Ginger Foglesong Gibson-ESSENTIAL

Gibson, Ginger Foglesong Tiptoe Joe. Illustrated by Laura Rankin.  32 pgs.  Greenwillow Books, 2013. $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  We loved this book!  The illustrations are adorable and the story is fun and sentimental.  Tiptoe Joe has a surprise for all of his forest friends.  What is it?  Shhhhh.  It’s a secret.  With predictable rhythmic text, children will laugh and enjoy this surprise book.  “Turkey, Turkey, come with me. I know something you should see.”  This phrase is repeated with each animal that Tiptoe Joe invites to see his surprise.  After the invitation to come with Tiptoe Joe, each animal follows by thudding, swishing,  or clopping in a line behind him.  But Tiptoe Joe continues to whisper, “Shhhhhh” along the way.  Thud, thud.  Swish, swish.  Flap, flap- all the forest friends tiptoe soft and tiptoe slow to see the most wonderful and unexpected surprise of all! Pre-K.  EL (K-3). ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: SL.