Under the Blanket

In a jingling series of couplets, Linden tells the story of Gillian, Mouse, Lion and Honey Bear, who played together each day. ""But one afternoon when the clock had struck three,/ Gillian was not at the table to tea.'' What follows is a spirited game of hide-and-seek as Gillian's friends look in an old chest, behind the door and other places. Readers finally see the room in its entirety, including the lumpy pink blanket underneath which Gillian has been hiding the whole time. Linden's pastel watercolors are charming, the toy-like animals are winsome and cuddly, and Gillian is appealing in her striped socks and one blue shoe. It is unfortunate that the mystery of Gillian's hiding place is given away by the title, but this is bound to appeal to children who love the timeless game of hide-and-seek. Ages 38. (May)