Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum 
By Lisa Wheeler
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith

     Everyone knows how sticky bubble gum is when you step on it, and especially when the hot sun has melted it. This lively, rhyming story with energetic, bright illustrations, tells the story of a toad who steps on the big gummy wad in the road and gets stuck, of course. A succession of interesting critters comes along and also becomes mired in the gooey bubble gum. A bad mood shrew, a wide, white goose, a bumble bee and an old weathered crow. They come up with a unique idea to free themselves and escape a truck that is zooming toward them. But then along comes a bear.

   The plot is an old familiar one, but just the kind of repetitive story that small children love, and it's told in a wonderful sing-songy rhyme. Coupled with brightly colored, hilarious illustrations, this a perfect read-aloud bedtime book.

   This book would be useful to help children develop their thinking skills. See if they can come up with any other ideas of how the animals could get out of their predicament.