Leonard A Fable Author:Wolf Erlbruch Kindergarten-Grade 3 — A fresh, funny fantasy with roots in a familiar psychological phenomenon. Leonard is simultaneously frightened and fascinated by dogs. Each morning when he wakes up, he behaves like one. His amiable family goes along with the joke, allowing him to bark and yelp, and to mimic a dog in the supermarket where he chews on the pa... more »nt leg of an unwary shopper. When a fairy enters and offers him a wish, he unhesitatingly wishes to be a dog, only to discover that the world is full of boys whom he imagines to be universally ferocious. Taking pity on Leonard's misery, the fairy gives him a second wish, which he uses to restore himself to his original state. The premise is humorous on several levels. In addition, the familiar cautionary theme of being careful what you wish for is given an original twist. The exaggerated cartoons that interpret the restrained, deadpan text are a perfect foil. The resulting effect is antic?whether Leonard is clinging to his mother's neck at the sight of a harmless pup, or the great, hulking mutt is leaping into his father's arms at the sight of a small lad. Executed in collages of brown paper and pastel, widely spaced on a background of pale tan, the art has a snappy, contemporary look. Definitely more than the sum of its droll parts, this is a laugh-out-loud treat in concept, words, and pictures.-Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT« less