MRS. MEYER THE BIRD

This book is very nearly a piece of art, both in the tender, offbeat story and in the illustrations. Mrs. Meyer is a worrier and not just about the small stuff. She worries about whether a plane or bus will crash outside her house, if she'll have enough bandages and food for the victims, if they'll like her cake. Her disheveled husband, a carefree soul, tries to allay her fears, to no avail. Then Mrs. Meyer discovers a blackbird foundling in her garden, which brings new worries—``Had she fed Lindy the wrong bugs? Or was he really a small penguin?''—but at least they are earthbound. So is Lindy. In an effort to teach the blackbird its birthright, Mrs. Meyer climbs a tree and makes the ultimate sacrifice—she jumps. Luckily, Mrs. Meyer takes wing, and so does the bird. As the story goes its blithe, entertaining way, the accompanying artwork simply dazzles. Where appropriate, Erlbruch (Leonard, 1996, not reviewed, etc.) deploys a Motherwell gesture, or a delicate Chardin touch, all the while maintaining an informal tone. Little visual asides—Mr. Meyer dabbling in Japanese painting or origami—serve as serene but telling counterpoints. Splendid. (Picture book. 4-8)