A Spider and a Pig

This slight and disjointed original fairy tale is a disappointing vehicle for Morley's cut-paper artwork--although here it is not as diverting or as meticulously conceived as her illustrations for The Tapestry Cats . Set on an island called Silkythread, this story concerns the aftermath of a violent windstorm, which blows astray both the miniature princess and one of the island's many spiders. The spider is rescued from a pond by her best friend, a truffle-hunting pig, and the pair joins the general search for the princess. After discovering her lodged in a tree, everyone sits down to a celebratory meal of truffle soup. Morley again demonstrates a flair for visuals that are at once droll and decorative, and her deft hand with color, pattern and design lends the pages an overall eye-catching charm. But on many spreads the art's storytelling capacities are overwhelmed by a multiplicity of small elements without a strong focal point. Coupled with the silly, artlessly written text, it makes for an unsatisfying read all around. Ages 4-6. (Apr.)