Baby Baboon

In his attempt to snare a hare, Leopard enlists the help of Baboon. She is to monitor the rabbit hole while Leopard takes a drink from the river. But the cunning prey digs himself another exit and escapes. As Baby Baboon observes this comedic scene from his tree branch, he laughs and laughs--until he provokes the angry hunger of Leopard--``I'll have you to eat instead.'' When he snags Baby Baboon by the tail, Vervet Monkey intercedes with a clever scheme to save the impetuous youngster: reasoning that baboons are notoriously tough to eat, she suggests a spurious tenderizing method. The powerful Leopard is foiled by his credulity when Baby Baboon flies high through the air and is caught in his mother's arms. So, to this day, we can hear Baby Baboon laughing and laughing as Leopard hangs in the tree waiting. The classic simplicity and sly playfulness of Hadithi's narrative and Kennaway's exotic, light-sensitive watercolors make this attractive volume a worthy addition to the team's growing library of pourquoi tales ( Lazy Lion , Hot Hippo , Crafty Chameleon ). Ages 4-8. (May)