Fat Mouse

The first of these large-format board books has a plot that takes readers in circlesFat Mouse chased a cook, who chased a farmer who chased a milkmaid, who chased a cow that chased a ram that chased a dog that chased a cat that chasedFat Mouse, who is on the cover. In Parrot Told Snake, the animals repeat a message to one another, until they finally gang up and tell a hunter to ""Go home!'' Stevens's wide-eyed animals and people madly dash around on a stark, white background. Both of these provide good surprises the first time through and they have a rhythm and repetition to them that children will respond to. Ages 26. (April)