NO MILK!

``A dairy cow. A city boy. A silver pail. A wooden stool''- -everything but the expertise. Result? ``No milk''—not in response to a pat or a kiss, food or a joke, entertaining tricks or anger. At last, the placid cow grows impatient with the boy's obtuseness; and when she stands over the pail, the boy realizes what he should do. The circumstances are so implausible that they may amuse knowledgeable children—and even some city kids—with their exaggeration, but the story is most effective as a parable. The futility of inappropriate efforts makes an obvious subtext to the succinct quatrains; children will also enjoy chiming in with the reiterated ``But no milk!'' Making her first US appearance, Eitan—an Israeli who has been nominated for the Andersen Award- -provides freely rendered illustrations in pastel and gouache, with bold designs, vibrantly expressive figures, and brilliant colors accented with dramatic black (especially the formally dressed little boy's suit). A fine debut for Ericsson, who's especially fortunate in her illustrator. (Picture book. 3-8)