Arlo Rolled by Susan Pearson (review)

“Stir-fries and soup are no life for me!/I want to grow up and find out what I’ll be.” So says Arlo, the bespectacled pea who rolls away from his home pod to find his destiny. Adventure ensues, with slugs and stinkbugs eager to make lunch out of Arlo, who only rolls faster as he repeats his mantra of self-actualization. After all that rolling, and thanks to a careless kick from a digging dog, Arlo finds himself far from where he began; burrowing into the ground for a nap, he sleeps and sleeps, eventually waking to find he has grown into the plant he was meant to be. This lighthearted destiny quest charms with its playful rhymes and zesty acrylics depicting Arlo’s journey in the bold, playful colors of a lush garden. Full-bleed double-page spreads capture the immensity of the landscape compared to a single pea while conveying the sense of boundless possibility that keeps Arlo moving. With plenty of action, accessible and engaging rhymes, and a winning pea-sized protagonist, this rollicking readaloud makes a perfect companion to an introductory unit on plants or gardening—or just a warm day when summer produce abounds.