A MOON OR A BUTTON

Sometimes Ruth Krauss manages to capture the evolution of an idea in a schoolroom with complete charm and veracity. Sometimes her sense of fun is so captivating that an abstract idea is transformed into concrete entertainment. But this book misses fire. If the children in the Rowayton school had been given a concept and transferred it to paper, the result might well be what this conveys. But why give the concept to Remy Charlip — and ask him to reproduce the idea as he conceives of a child's presentation? It seems to lose reason for being; the theme of nonsense has run away with the book. It would seem likely that the picture book age child would reject this.