GOGGLES

Goggles is not Glasses for Peter nor, like earlier books in the series, centered on a singular catalytic incident on the way to growing up and thus capable of broad application: the motorcycle goggles Peter finds and manages to keep from the neighborhood bullies — with the help of friend Archie, dog Willie and a ruse — might have been anything attractive to kids and the episode might have happened yesterday and might recur tomorrow. For what amounts, then, to an everyday little boy escapade, Ezra Jack Keats' stunning collages are over qualified — which is another way of saying they're wasted. Except of course that they give you something to look at when you haven't much to think about. And you are glad that Peter, who's shown he can stand up for himself, tricks the bullies and gets away with his prize.