Do!

This unique and assiduously crafted book features illustrations by members of the Warli Tribe in Maharashtra, India, silk-screen printed on recycled craft paper the color of paper bags, lending an organic, rough-hewn feel. A single verb (pull, drink, carry) appears on each page or spread as figures in white perform each of the actions. As a note explains, the images mimic lime and chalk paintings from the region, which are traditionally created by women on walls washed with cow dung, mud, and paint. The flat, narrow, hourglass-shaped humans and primal animals possess surprising vitality: the "fight" page features figures wrestling and wielding sticks while, by a peanut shaped pond, deerlike creatures clash horns. For "play," figures play badminton, shoot marbles, jump rope, and toss balls. Parents will find the book's finesse and aesthetic appropriate for coffee table display, though kids should also grasp the concept and appreciate the stylish and dynamic imagery. Ages 4-6. (Nov.)