Pet?

Crawford makes Ron Raschka's recent 34-word Yo! Yes look positively verbose with this story, which uses only 17 easy-to-read words and a series of roughly painted illustrations. A girl daydreams about getting a pet (``Cow?'' ``Cat?'' ``Bat?'' ``Rat?'' read four respective spreads), finds a stray dog, brings it home and asks permission to keep it (``Mom?''--``No!''--``Dad?''--``No!''). But, in a development parents may not appreciate, the heroine's single wordless tear causes Mom and Dad to relent. Crawford reaps a maximum of benefits from his minimalism. The art, heavily outlined and, at times, even crude, radiates a certain raffishness, while the text will foster a sense of achievement among the youngest readers. To adopt Crawford's telegraphic style: Easy! Good! Fun! All ages. (May)