Bouncy, bright summer picture books are a pleasure to share with your young ones on a hammock or a lawn chair.

"Swim, Swim" by Lerch (James Proimos); Scholastic Press; 32 pages; $16.99.

Lerch, the snazziest fish in the tank, is the life of any party. Only problem is, he's the only fish in the tank. When he gets lonely, he tries to find a friend in the diver statue, the bubbles and even the cat outside. Lerch's charming attempts at friendship are adorable and funny, and the addition of his eventual real pal, a new fish named Dinah, will bring smiles to young faces.

With huge and simple text — "Swim!" and "Pebbles, will you be my friends?" — this bold and vivid picture book is a summery winner.

"Over in the Garden" by Jennifer Ward; illustrated by Kenneth J. Spengler; Rising Moon Press; 32 pages; $16.

Everyone knows the folk tune "Over in the Meadow." Though there are many variations of this classic in children's books, Ward's is exceptionally summery and child-friendly. A bright bevy of bugs star, as kids learn counting and the names of these lovable insects that roll, pounce, buzz and slither.

Spengler's adorable, lush illustrations are nearly three-dimensional. And a glossary of insect information, a musical score and hidden numbers in every picture enhance the reading pleasure.

Also from Rising Moon, "C is for Coyote: A Southwest Alphabet Book" features bold colors, clear photographs and brief introductions to the alphabet and the desert's marvels.

"Don't Step on the Crack" by Colin McNaughton; Dial/Penguin Putnam; 32 pages; $15.

For centuries, kids have admonished one another to avoid the cracks in pavement, and not just because they might break their mothers' backs. The crazy McNaughton (known for his wacky, kid-pleasing books, such as "The Aliens are Coming!") takes this saying a step further. Speaking directly to readers, "Hey you!" McNaughton depicts the "what-ifs" of sidewalk crack stepping, such as "you might suddenly turn into a pig!" and "your dad might decide to become a hippie."

A baby sibling turns into a vampire, a boy has to wear a tutu on his birthday and goes to school one morning without his pants — all because of stepping on a crack.

Silly read-aloud material, "Don't Step on the Crack" will have young kids looking and laughing, before they walk on the sidewalk.

"Gotcha, Louie!" by H.M. Ehrlich; illustrated by Emily Bolam; Houghton Mifflin Co., 32 pages; $15.

This whimsical tale of separation shows what can happen when a game of "Gotcha" causes little Louie to hide where the adults can't find him. Though Louie's parents and grandparents search in the tall grass near their beach house and on a dune, Louie's mother finally yells, "Catch me, Louie," which causes the boy to run out of his hiding place. All is well, but preschoolers dealing with their own separation anxiety may find Louie's game, slight dilemma and eventual parental reunion reassuring. The book's beach theme also makes it a fun summer read.

"My Wagon Will Take Me Anywhere" by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel; illustrated by Tom Newsom; Dutton/Penguin Putnam; 24 pages; $10.

This retro series from Dutton stars "America's Original Little Red Wagon," the Red Flyer. Nostalgic parents and grandparents will enjoy these books as much as youngsters, as so many of us either owned or rode in a red wagon when we were young.

In this story (there are others available, mostly board books), a little boy's red wagon magically becomes a ship sailing the seven seas, a dogsled mushing across the Arctic and a rocket zooming through space. The boy's adventures take place while taking an ordinary walk with his parents, dog and teddy bear, but you'd never know it judging from the book's imagination and realistic paintings.

Well done and spirited, the red wagon books should please.

"Are You a Butterfly?" by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries; Kingfisher Books; 32 pages; $10.

Kingfisher's Backyard Books series introduces ages 3 to 7 to a world of exploration in their own backyards. This one depicts the world of the butterfly, putting kids right into the action. ("Are you a butterfly? If you are, your parents look like this.") Softly colored illustrations of a chrysalis changing and the ending — "it is most unlikely that you don't have long feelers growing out of the top of your head" — place kids into the center of the book's action.

Other titles include "Are You a Ladybug?" "Are You a Snail?" and "Are You a Spider?" They should encourage preschoolers and beginning readers to explore in their own yards.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com