The Bread Bus

The novelty of a bus made of bread propels Qiao’s slim but satisfying story. On the eve of the spring market and festival, baker Beaver toils to produce goods for the event. After he wonders how to transport the ensuing abundance, a page turn reveals, the next morning, “a bread bus driving through the city!” The chocolate-fueled vehicle easily attracts the town’s animalian youth, who clamor to get aboard, then munch on treats and dream up other transports (“croissant car”). When an accident immobilizes the bus, the jolly group comes up with an ingenious solution that proves to be good marketing at the festival—and leaves Beaver well prepared for the next season’s fair. A baguette’s tawny coloring brings a buttery brightness to dainty artwork, which is rendered with a smudgy, saturated vibrancy, an effect that leavens this scrumptious fairy tale–like work. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)