Louella and the Yellow Balloon

Coxe's first book is a joy-filled celebration of a baby's innocent confrontations with danger. Patricia Pig takes her baby Louella to the circus, and buys her a balloon. ``Hold tight to the string,'' she tells her little pig. But Louella lets go, and has to crawl, toddle and leap after it, encountering nearly every circus performer, and ultimately tripping across the length of the tightrope. She is saved from a serious turn of events by Patricia, and not a moment too soon. The watercolors are bold and calliope-bright, the action is fast and happily farfetched; Coxe is a newcomer with a welcomeand quirkysense of humor. Ages 3-7. (September)