Where Does the Brown Bear Go?

This is a deceptively simple, wonderfully appealing bedtime book--reminiscent of Eve Rice's Goodnight Goodnight --which will connect with even the most restless toddler. In a series of simple questions (``When the lights go down / On the city street / Where does the white cat go, honey? / Where does the white cat go?''), Weiss introduces a cat, a monkey, a camel, a stray dog, a seagull and a brown bear. All are ``on their way . . . on their way home.'' Finally, ``The stars are bright and a warm wind blows / Through the window tonight, honey, / Through the window tonight / . . . And everyone is home.'' Weiss shows a boy snuggled in bed under a quilt surrounded by all his animals. Although her palette runs to dark tones, Weiss's pastels are warm and glowing on black backgrounds sprinkled with twinkling stars. Infused with warmth, this book grows better with each reading. Ages 2-up. (Mar.)