Henry in Shadowland

When Henry and an artist named Paul build a shadow theater and perform the play ``The Dragon Firetooth Kidnaps Princess Gundi,'' Henry steps into the theater and is caught up in the breakneck action. Henry in Shadowland takes one hairpin turn after another, telling a story within a story within a story. In a stirring conclusion, Henry brings color back to the black-and-white world of Shadowland with his box of paints. This enchanting book is written in short bursts of text and is illustrated with pictures both small and large that tumble across its oversize pages. Varvasovszky succeeds in creating an entire world in just 32 pages. There is nothing quite like Henry anywhere, but it is a worthy companion to such other picture book celebrations of spirited children as Eloise and Where the Wild Things Are. Ages 8-11. (Nov.)