THE WAY HOME

A little elephant is having such fun at the beach that she's unmoved by all her mother's coaxing. Only after mother has left and the first star comes out does she start home —following the trail of bananas her mother has cleverly left. With the last, she finds her mother—and another banana? No, that's the moon, to ``help us to see our way home.'' The reassuring quality here is nicely reinforced by its unusual illustrations in fabric appliquÇ, the many materials combined to create evocative, appealing scenes. (Picture book. 3-7)