This Is Not a Book about Dodos

The title isn't kidding. In fact, not only is this not a book about dodos, it also isn't a book about very much of anything at all. When an artist retreats to a mountain to paint, his solitude is soon shattered by an enormous flock of dodos. He tries shooing them and ignoring them by turn; finally, he surrenders to their quirky charm and begins to paint them. When the dodos disappear, he misses the color they brought to his solitary existence, and has to make do with memories (and a bursting gallery of dodo paintings he scatters over the hillside to remind him of his departed friends). It's stretching it a bit to call this a parable about the value of appreciating what's right under one's nose; mostly, it's just a nonsense tale. Lehan's folk-art inspired illustrations are both vigorous and colorful, but unfortunately their zest isn't enough to tip the balance on this pointless book. Ages 5-8. (Jan.)