Uncle Ivan's Magic Box

Dressed in brilliant carnival attire, Uncle Ivan visits his nephew and brings a magic box into which they climb. Inside, they spin playfully in weightless animation, floating like astronautsalong with furniture, a cat, and surprisingly, the moon itself. Uncle Ivan tells Tom about ocean tides and the moon's influence on them. In a much-needed footnote the author explains that her purpose was to show what happens if you imagine ""breaking away from gravity,'' but the resulting text is disappointing; it relies heavily on the topsy-turvy artwork to show what gravity is all about. However, this remains a visual feast, with exuberant pictures and elegant page details throughout. Ages 4-8. (October)