POLLY'S PICNIC

A field of soft, impressionistic wildflowers on spring green endpapers sets the tone for this lightweight but invitingly illustrated tale. Wicker basket in hand, cherubic-looking Polly sets off to the river for a summer feast, but when she dozes off, "Quack-Quack!/ Attack!/ Some ducks stole her snack/ and gobbled it up/ in midstream!" One by one, her treats are devoured by a parade of hungry critters. Mr. Fox takes her sandwiches, a pair of cats drink her milk, a horse gobbles up her pear and a goat eats the basket. In the end, the repentant animals set things to right by whipping up a new meal ("Then they measured, mixed and baked/ biscuits, sandwiches, sausages, cakes") that they can all enjoy together. Hamilton's (Violet and the Mean and Rotten Pirates) rhymes and story line seem forced at times (e.g., a swan chastises some ducks with "You should be ashamed—/ Polly's upset/ because of your greed./ You must put this right/ with all possible speed"). Fortunately, Williams's (Starry Tales) idyllic, mostly full-bleed illustrations wring gentle humor from the story's premise (the horse clutching a spoon in his teeth as he mixes up a bowl of something in the kitchen is a particular delight). The soft focus and velvety texture conjure a picture-perfect summer's day. Ages 3-7. (June)