Leopold's Dream

This discursive picture book invents its own quirky history of powered flight. Orphaned Leopold, lonely at a turn-of-the-century German university, joins forces with two other students to construct first a balloon and then a series of increasingly sophisticated winged craft. When his friends lose enthusiasm, he struggles on with the aid of a crippled child. Together they construct the graceful Schwalbe (``swallow''), and Leopold launches it into an ambiguous ending. He is never seen again, but is this because he crashed or because he is still aloft? Vaguely surreal, stiff and pale caricatures bustle with detail. The substantial, hand-scripted text proves slow-going at times, though the originality of the tale will hold readers' interest. Melendez subtly gives the book a period feel through complex, fluid layouts that cleverly integrate words and art. Named Spain's Best Illustrated Book in 1991, this witty effort is as eccentric and single-minded as its hero. All ages. (Oct.)