The House on the Hill

In Couture's first book, reminiscent of an open dollhouse, nine children and a black poodle explore a labyrinthine, airy, seemingly abandoned Victorian manse. Several rooms can be seen simultaneously on each delicately painted spread; the lively brood are shown playing, relaxing or peeking around corners. A bounty of old-fashioned paraphernalia--elaborate wallpaper, period instruments, family portraits, turn-of-the-century garb, rocking horses--demand a lingering look at each finely detailed page. When evening comes, the children respectfully clean up, leaving the dwelling ``just the way it was.'' Parents may object to the possible implication that it's okay to roam around someone else's house as long as it's unoccupied, but Couture's is, after all, a fanciful scenario. Though her conceit is rather slim, she provides an opportunity for the curious to unleash their imaginations and briefly partake of a bygone era. Ages 2-up. (Sept.)