At the Cafe Splendid

The Cafe Splendid is familiar territory for Adele and her brother Victor. They go there with their mother every Friday afternoon. The chef is used to Victor sitting in his kitchen, and Adele is regularly in view sipping on her lime milkshake. For her birthday she has the chance to perform her magic act at the cafe, but Victor, her assistant, disappears with her top hat, wand and bag of tricks. Soon, the cafe becomes a stage for chasing, hiding, running and noise-making. Adele can't spot Victor, but she does see the remains of her tricks, which he has ruined. Then, the real surprisea cake and well-wishes from an adoring public. And Adele joins in the fanfare and comes up with one last trick. Scratchy black lines, eccentric shading and harlequin colors give the Cafe Splendid a carnival-like atmosphere not usually associated with the formal, sometimes oppressive world of adult eating-places. The trick is that Denton makes the cafe such a hospitable place, just another space for hide-and-seek, and one that welcomes readers as well. Ages 4-8. (March)