Ruby and Louise are playing school, but their mischievous students Lily and gorilla suitwearing Max aren't following the rules and lessons (shown in mini lift-the-flap books). The two pranksters eventually test Lily's Volcano Kit, and the otherwise pitch-perfect story ends rather abruptly post-explosion. Via varied layouts and perspectives, Wells's pastel-colored ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations expertly capture the lively (and consequence-free) day. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ruby and best friend Louise head up Miss Ruby and Miss Louise's Home Preschool, but it's tough keeping their students in line. Max won't get out of his gorilla costume, Lily brings a volcano kit to school, and Can't-Sit-Up-Slug (one of several toys in attendance) falls out of his cot during naptime and must be escorted to the nurse on a stretcher (which he nearly falls out of, too). School rules and lessons on shapes, letters, and numbers appear beneath flaps made to look like composition notebooks. They're somewhat superfluous, but the rest of the story is so much fun-including a "perfectly" exploding volcano that includes paprika, ketchup, and sprinkles, along with the traditional baking soda and vinegar-that it doesn't even matter. Ages 3-5. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.