I want ice cream! by Elisabetta Pica, illustrated by Silvia Borando

 The simple title sentence, presented in a number of different ways, and combined with Borando's scribbled figure, takes the reader through all the emotions of childhood.

Colorful scoops of ice cream in triangular black and white cones decorate the end pages, while the title page shows an ice cream cart with a delicious sampling of green, yellow, and pink ice cream cones. Cue the unnamed child on the cover, shown wearing a white square with a scribble of curls. "Ice cream!!!" they say. The adult, shown only as a pair of black pants and the outline of shirt, shoes, and hand, replies "No." As the child goes through a gamut of emotions, the right page flares into hopeful yellows, jealous greens, sad blues, and raging reds, each reflected on the child's shirt/dress. Finally, after shifting through a rainbow of emotions, the child walks off with the adult, reflecting "Maybe we'll have ice cream tomorrow."

When I think of Silvia Borando, I always think of Minibombo books, a quirky, unique series of books that combine simple illustrations with thought-provoking ideas for young children. This team-up is no exception and Pica and Borando have created a deceptively simple book that takes readers through a gamut of emotions, with a somewhat ambiguous ending, and encourages them to think as well as giggle.

Verdict: An excellent choice for storytime and most library collections.

ISBN: 9780593382653; Published June 2021 by Rise X Penguin Workshop; Borrowed from another library in my consortium