ELINOR AND VIOLET

Hot and snazzy artwork carries this story of being more than just a little naughty. Elinor is a young chicken. She enjoys being a tad naughty, like writing on the wall (but in tiny letters), and talking back to her mother (but not out loud), and singing bad words (softly, under her breath). Then she meets Violet, on a visit to the neighborhood for a week; Violet enjoys being naughty without restraint. They get along like a house afire. They pull lots of practical jokes, then go so far as to hide Elinor's favorite aunt's purse, jeopardizing a special trip to the teahouse. Violet demands that Elinor pinkie-swear not to divulge the whereabouts of the purse, but Elinor spills the beans, admitting that they wanted it as buried treasure. When she apologizes, her aunt says, "Oh, Elinor, everyone's naughty sometimes," and goes on to tell the story of a low-down trick she and Elinor's mother did as young chickens. Murphy's is a sensible idea: Keep your naughtiness in perspective. Most everyone enjoys a joke, but few appreciate being tormented. (Picture book. 3-6)