Playing Marbles: Story and Pictures

On her way home from school a girl stops to draw a circle in the dust with a stick, and two boys accept her challenge. ``Okay, okay, one game,'' they say. Out come the marbles. This simple text attempts to explain the game as well as tell a quiet story. However, the explanation suffers; it's not clear how the game of marbles is played, and sentences often lapse into the passive voice. While the children are faintly characterized, there's little thrust, and nothing at stake. Readers won't even be sure who wins. For those who know marbles, the story may seem too slight, and those who don't know the game will not be enlightened. With a stronger text, this could have been a winner; the illustrations are warm and engaging. And it is a pleasure to see a picture book on one of America's oldest, most basic childhood games. Ages 5-8. (August)