Milton

What at first appears to be a story about a runaway cow turns out to pack a little surprise--the adventures are actually the invention of a boy on a class field trip, daydreaming in front of a painting. Massey's concept, similar to Ella's Trip to the Museum (Children's Forecasts, June 3), is intriguing; however, it is strangled by awkward rhymes and cloying verses (""We were at the museum today;/ where were you, out to play?/ If you think it's fun to disobey,/ next time at school is where you'll stay!""). The tidy lines and cheery-faced creatures in Chu's grainy colored-pencil drawings provide only a low-key energy, not nearly strong enough to power this outing. Ages 5-up. (July)