Simon James’s watercolor illustrations outlined with pen and ink are whimsical scenes, generally of children engaged in whatever type of play is suggested by the lighthearted poem that accompanies the picture on each two-page spread. Occasionally, the illustration is an inviting depiction of thoughtful observation or repose, suggested by poems such as Marchette Chute’s “Sleeping Outdoors” or Charlotte Zolotow’s “Pink Azalea.” Sometimes there is humor in the interplay between the words and the art. In the opening poem, James’s own “The Adventurers,” the poem describes the thrill of exploring open land. The accompanying picture shows a group of intrepid children trekking through an overgrown field. In the background, a row of city apartment buildings rises reassuringly. (Ages 4-7)