THE SATURDAY ESCAPE

Jack the bear so adores his library's story hour that he shirks his chores in order to attend—and he convinces his pals Angie the rabbit and Melden the mouse to do likewise. Jack "cleans" his room by stuffing everything into and under the bed; Angie leaves a tape of her piano recital so that her father will think she's practicing; and Melden hands off his shutter-painting duties to his younger brothers. But when the storyteller unwittingly pricks the trio's consciences, they leave early and help one another set matters right. While debut author/artist Mahoney has fun with the misdirected ingenuity of his characters, his story is a little too didactic to wholeheartedly entertain. However, his tidy, cheery watercolors have an easygoing energy, and he creates wonderful moments of visual slapstick. Melden, for example, guiltily worries that his brothers have run amuck with the paintbrush, and imagines them painting "I LUV CHEEZ" on their white house. Mahoney's technique is accomplished: his watercolors realistically convey a range of textures, from Jack's fur to autumn foliage. Sharp-eyed readers will find little jokes, too, such as the Bruins pennant and bee-patterned curtains in the hero's room. This newcomer's work bears watching. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)