I HAVE A PET!

In this simple, informative book about pets, five children introduce their animals to a pet-show judge by telling him a little bit about their pets. There's Bucky the dog (who does tricks), Fern the cat (who purrs), George the bird (who sings), Sophie the hamster (who has soft fur), and Raymond the lizard (who is unusual). In the end, everyone gets a prize. Halpern's (Moving from One to Ten, not reviewed) painted cutouts are more interesting than the no-nonsense text that accompanies them, particularly on the pages where she depicts pet-show pandemonium getting under way. A warning to parents who don't want to get their children pets: The last picture is of a quaint little pet store, and underneath it is written, ``Which pet would you like to have?'' Pleasant, but lacks imagination. (Fiction/Picture book. 3-6)