The Moonlit Journey

In O'Donnell's fetching first book, night is falling as Thomas and his teddy bear gaze outdoors. Listening to the wind shake the trees and rattle the windows, Thomas is frightened--``he imagined he could hear the howling of wolves.'' And then magical things begin to happen. A fox appears (``just like the one in the painting near his bed''), and when Thomas asks if there are wolves outside, the kind animal offers to take him to the wise white stag, who will know the answer. As if to allay the boy's apprehension, teddy suddenly grows into a large, furry bear on whose back Thomas rides through the night. The trio's nocturnal adventure finally quells Thomas's fears about any scary creatures that might be lurking in the darkness. Youngsters with active imaginations will find this fantastical journey equally comforting. The moon's luminous glow infiltrates O'Donnell's illustrations, which are every bit as winsome as his melodic story . Ages 4-7. (Apr.)