OVER THE RAINBOW

Noonan (Breakfast Time, not reviewed, etc.) transports a dreamy-eyed child and her purple, plush kitty onto a pale rainbow arcing across a pastel sky in this rendition of the classic song. In the artist’s treacly interpretation, the child, dressed as a ballerina princess, dances across chimney tops escorted by bluebirds and lemon drops, then wakes up from her reverie to hug a live kitten. The lyrics are drawn from the sheet-music version, which begins with a verse about heaven opening a magic lane when “clouds darken up the skyway,” and does not include the film’s more familiar introduction or later reprise. The song’s wistful undertones may be missing from the visuals, but no one will read this without hearing the music, and for those inclined to play along, a simple arrangement is appended. Nice to see in print, despite the bland pictures. (Picture book. 6-8)