SLOW LORIS

A seemingly lethargic lemur proves appearances can deceive in this amusing tale. British newcomer Deacon subtly draws readers into Loris's supposedly sluggish zoo existence by using paintings awash in cheerless hues and small text peppered with ellipses. Three successive spreads track the lackadaisical fellow, noteworthy for their continual change in perspective: "It took Loris ten minutes to eat a satsuma... twenty minutes to get from one end of his branch to the other... and an hour to scratch his bottom." As Loris plods along his branch, the twisted bark spirals across the gutter towards the reader. Then comes a revelation: "At night, when all the other animals were sound asleep, Loris got up and did things... FAST..." Here Deacon devotes a spread to a close-up of Loris that resembles an out-of-focus photograph. He is not a lump after all, but a tie-and-hat–wearing, satsuma-eating nocturnal party animal. Other zoo animals soon catch on to Loris's secret life and join him in an unrestrained nighttime spree in which bunnies sport neckties and a meercat wears a fez. A quirky tale with an entertaining twist. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)