Louise Builds a House

As promised in Louise Builds a House , the enterprising heroine returns, ready here to construct a boat. Louise first concerns herself with the bare necessities, and a sturdy wooden deck, a mast and a crow's nest are put in place. Next she fashions signal flags, ``to dress the boat.'' These colorful nautical pennants are also a means of spelling out simple messages that cleverly augment the story--the key to their interpretation is provided on the endpapers. As Louise basks in her cabin under portholes revealing a starry night sky, the signal flags on deck spell out ``twinkle, twinkle.'' This perfect companion to Pfanner's earlier work continues the simple concept of imaginative building while maintaining a distinct character and charm of its own. Rendered in no-nonsense primary colors that reflect Louise's determination, the amusing artwork is replete with interesting details. Ages 3-6. (Aug.)