Look Out Bird!

Vibrant, artfully shaded illustrations lend a distinctive charm to this cumulative zoological romp. When a clumsy snail--fetchingly wrought in pinks, yellows and oranges--slips from its leafy perch, it strikes a bird, which flies away and alarms a frog. The ensuing chain of upsets, of course, comes full circle as the beleaguered snail mutters, ``Oh no! Not again!'' Janovitz's bold palette contrasts handsomely with her stark white backgrounds, and a refreshing sense of action and continuity is imparted with each character's leaping (swimming, scurrying, etc.) off the edges of the right-hand pages. The particularly expressive creatures strike a harmonious balance between realism and cartoon in this sprightly offering. Ages 3-5. (Apr.)