BOUQUET OF LITTLES

The author of A Hole Is to Dig (1952, p. 401) and Open House for Butterflies (1960, p. 288, J-142), here unaccompanied by Sendak, has turned from the wry, humorous approach to the world of little people to a quainter, more old-fashioned view. The little book is composed of little rhymes with excessive repetition of the word "little"; the result is a mixture of clever, comical lines and too sweet, dear ones. The full color illustrations on tan paper of chunky, smiling people are well designed and artistic, but do not have enough action or variation for little eyes. A little book by a big author which is more than a little precious.