MOONDANCE

A whimsical tale about a bear who imagines that the moon and clouds are personified: He's sad to think the moon won't dance with him; when the morning clouds descend as fog, he's delighted that at least they've answered his invitation, but when the fog lifts, he worries: ``Do you think I could have stepped on their toes...?'' he asks Little Bird. Later, dancing with the rain the clouds send is fun; but Bear's real wish comes true when he spies the moon's reflection in a puddle—at last he can dance with it, too. Asch's gentle text has just the right light touch, building logically and without overcontrivance. His simple forms—areas of flat color boldly outlined in lighter tones—combine in a handsome graphic design with the creative use of varied frames and sophisticated colors: the liveliness and simplicity of his appealing images are perfect for very small ``readers.'' (Picture book. 2-6)