LAZY JACK

In this fine retelling of a classic tale, Jack's mom drags him out of bed to work with a succession of employers, but he just can't manage to get his wages home. Far from being lazy, though, the heavy-lidded lad labors industriously and makes his bosses laugh so heartily that, rather than scorn him, they want him back. French (Under the Moon, 1994, etc.) has come up with a differentand nicely appropriateending for a story widely available in collections and single editions, and Ayto's squiggly illustrations, which feature Jack sleepwalking his way through task after task, capture the silly, physical humor perfectly. Funny, nonviolent, and mildly subversive, few folktales have such wide- ranging appeal; this is a particularly readable version. (Picture book/folklore. 4+)