JUST A LITTLE BIT
by Ann Tompert & illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
With a nifty fillip of scientific principle, a delightful variant on such tales as ``The Turnip,'' where the last, smallest creature's help accomplishes a goal. Here, Elephant wants to seesaw—with Mouse; but though Mouse pushes down hard, nothing happens. Other animals offer to help, lugubriously piling onto Mouse's end, while amused bystanders comment, offer advice, and are just about to leave (``They'll never do it...Let's go!'') when a flying beetle tops the pile and tips the balance. Tompert makes the most of the situation in her beautifully tuned dialogue; but Munsinger takes the prize here with comical renditions of the improbable antics and hilarious facial expressions of assorted playground/zoological types. (Picture book. 3-8)