PreS-Gr 1--Two fuzzy creatures, one large and one small, admire the sandcastle they have created. The big one declares it perfect, while his little friend feels it just misses the mark. He decides to add flags and is now satisfied that it has reached perfection. Not so fast! His partner thinks that while it is better, the towers could certainly be taller. Soon other creatures at the beach join in. One suggests that the wall is too small; others opine that the castle needs arches, windows, stairs, a gatehouse, and even a drawbridge. After each suggestion, we see the pair dutifully construct until finally, they all feel it is perfect. Just as they pose for a group photo with this truly spectacular sandcastle, a huge wave comes in and destroys it. A wonderful illustration of the wet, bedraggled crowd is sure to elicit laughs. Happiness wins the day as the final page shows the two friends enjoying snow-cones, sitting next to what looks suspiciously like the original sandcastle, and guess what? It is perfect. VERDICT This award-winning duo have created a lovely tribute to the old adage that perfect is the enemy of good. Recommended for purchase for all collections.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

Kang and Weyant's bear pals practice self-regulation in a quest for perfection. Two bears (one purple, one brown) build a sand castle together on the beach. "Pat pat pat" goes the shovel and bucket as they mold their creation into the right shapes. As the purple bear puts one last shell in place, the brown bear declares that the castle is "perfect." But the purple bear has another idea: "It needs flags." They add twigs to the castle's turrets. Then the brown bear decides the towers could be taller, so--"pat pat pat"--they build some more. Other furry, anthropomorphic characters begin to crowd the beach and offer their creative feedback for additional components. Finally, a gigantic furry creature (seen only as an enormous foot and shin that extends up past the frame of the page) bellows "MOAT!" The bear pals try to accommodate every idea on the exhaustive list as the other animals watch. Eventually, their teamwork pays off with a resulting sand castle that's big enough to fill a double-page spread. But, wait, is that a wave headed straight for the beach? Uh oh! As with the other books in the You Are (Not) Small series, this entry effectively uses simple dialogue to drive the story. Most text is printed in extra-large type and is easy to read, with plenty of white space and clear lines connecting dialogue to speakers. Weyant's colorful cartoon illustrations add a lightheartedness to what could be a stressful real-life situation for kids. Another life lesson neatly packaged in childcentric humor. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.