Hot Henry

In Hot Henry, it's a snowy day outside, and Henry needs to be warmly dressed to make the trip to a party. But when he's all bundled up, he feels too hot and so strips back down to his underwear. His parents allow him to dress himself, with some rather innovative touches (a T-shirt for pants, for one). Jessie draws dots all over the place in Messy Jessie, and then goes to the refrigerator, drops an egg on the floor, and addsfor startersmilk, catsup and mustard. Her father cleans her up and whisks her off to bed, where she dreams of bigger messes. Bombastic messages on child-rearing decorate the back covers, almost eliminating the offbeat, cartoony charm Hollander brings to the books. But children who are smart enough to enjoy the zingy humor in these might also be put off by the instructional overtones. Ages 4-8. (October)