Up the Mountain

Why should rain put a damper on fun? Four animal friends--Dragon, Cat, Chicken and Rabbit--grab their boots and umbrellas and head up the mountain. Along the way are splashes and pratfalls, but the intrepid explorers are rewarded at the top with sunny skies, a rainbow and even blackberries to nibble. As the sun gives way to the moon, the friends descend to the cozy homes that await them. This adventure tale may prove too mild for children at the upper end of the target audience, but their younger counterparts should be captivated by Agell's (To the Island) economical, crisp rhymes (""Red rain boots and muddy feet/ Dancing wetly down the street"") and sprightly, tightly framed drawings rendered in nursery room colors. Ages 2-5. (Mar.)