Don't Wake the Baby

This debut picture book is vibrant, energetic--and somewhat confusing. Towheaded Marvin tiptoes into his sibling's room and, heedless of repeated parental warnings, proceeds to act out various roles on and around baby's crib. This frenetic activity turns into full-blown scenarios involving--and generally endangering--the innocent infant. Clad in a broad-brimmed hat and flourishing his blanket like a matador's cape, Marvin is transported to a bull ring where, in full fighting regalia, he taunts a maddened bull into heading straight for the baby. Crowned with a makeshift turban, Marvin scatters playing cards around the room (``I hear noise'')--instantly he sports a magician's starred cloak, and levitates the crib through a giant hoop. All the while, a single ``Z'' floats above the sleeping tyke's resting place. Though Franklin's bright-colored, cartoony work is long on imagination, little ones may well have difficulty separating fact from fancy. The slender concept becomes repetitious, and the humor quickly wears thin. Ages 3-6. (Apr.)