SEVEN LOAVES OF BREAD

Each day, Millie bakes seven loaves—one each for the dog, hen, goat, and rooster, and a peddler, an elderly neighbor, and her lazy housemate, Rose. When Milly takes sick, Rose bakes, but since she doesn't ``like to work any harder than she [has] to,'' she makes one loaf less each day—with unfortunate results: unfed, the dog doesn't chase crows from the garden; the goat eats the laundry; the hen doesn't lay the eggs Milly needs to get well; etc. Like the husband left to mind the house, Rose finds that her problems increase until Milly gets better—and she suddenly reforms, even presenting Milly with her own loaf. This folkloric original tale is overcontrived; it's particularly peculiar that both young women aren't included in the daily ration. But Keller's energetic illustrations—scratchboard overlaid with cheerful down-home colors—recall the lively vigor of Michael McCurdy's wood engravings; she renders humans, animals, and an attractive traditional setting all in crisp detail and with equal facility: an excellent debut. (Picture book. 4-8)