THE GIRL AND THE ELEPHANT

Arresting artwork will draw youngsters to this simple story of friendship from a Dutch author/artist, whose illustrations seem ready-made for animated film. The tone of the narration is matter-of-fact: "This is the girl. She often goes to the zoo. She goes to see the animals, wishing there were no bars between them.... Most of all, she loves the elephant." The handsome watercolor-and-ink illustrations reinforce the anti-zoo sentiment. De Cock uses a versatile, two-tone palette of gold and black, and depicts the animals huddling dejectedly behind bars. Over several spreads, she depicts a budding friendship between girl and pachyderm. "Sometimes they play an elephant game" shows the girl swirling in leaves blown by the elephant; "sometimes they play a girl game" portrays the heroine suspended from the elephant's trunk. One day the heroine discovers the elephant has gone; "Back to Africa , says the caretaker." The child enlists the aid of a swift to find the elephant, then journeys to Africa. The strength of the book is in the starkly drawn, affecting illustrations. Moonlight beams through the porthole of the ship as the girl sleeps; assorted animals watch over her tiny figure as she searches Africa for the elephant; the girl and animal seem to bounce across the savannah when they spot each other. The artwork advances the action, while at the same time the girl's body language and the stunning settings furnish the economical tale's emotional underpinnings. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)