Rabbit and Chicken Count Eggs

A zoological odd couple lifts this beginning board book quartet above the norm. Vitality radiates from the covers, which, designed like rustic wooden fences, depict Rabbit peering through variously shaped diecut openings at his pal. Among their other simple virtues, the characters present a subtle message of helping a friend--three of these four disarming titles open with one protagonist asking the other for assistance (no help is needed for the fourth--a frisky game of hide-and-seek). The activities are suitably straightforward--and limited to the eponymous duo--with the counting perhaps scoring highest marks for fun. When questioned by Chicken about the number of boots, buckets, apples and eggs, the enthusiastic--if somewhat vague--Rabbit extends his front paws and exclaims, ``This many!'' Turk's stars are appealingly expressive and her colors soothing; the entire effect of the foursome, in fact, is a beguiling blend of unaffected sweetness with a modicum of early education. Ages 1-3. (Apr.)