Dizzy

The creator of Pinkie Leaves Home offers another glimpse of the animal kingdom in his latest picture book. Here, Dizzy the elephant takes his turn pitting his wit against the sometimes diabolical aspects of civilizaton. When Dizzy rescues a lost boy, the pachyderm and his pals are treated to a trip to the city by the lad's grateful father. In the gritty, jangling urban jungle of the big city, the beleaguered creatures face congestion, gridlock and a harrowing helicopter rescue before being reunited with their beloved genuine jungle. O'Donnell's bouncy watercolors--enhanced with wax resist and crayon--exhibit the same drollery and childlike sparkle found in Pinkie . And, as he did with that puckish penguin, O'Donnell has fashioned an enchanting menagerie; unfortunately, the animals are ill served by a somewhat bland text. Their visual charm and vitality don't mesh with the writing: as in certain movies, terrific actors are underused. Dizzy's misadventures are catalogued in a straightforward style that minimizes the--literally--immense comic potential of a city-bound elephant. Still, this captivating cast proves truly charismatic. Ages 4-7. (Sept.)