Humphries's (Hiding
) splendid watercolors follow an otter's all-night journey (“Night was Day for him, and Day was Night”) in this story about two friends on a curious quest. “Catch me a fish,” the King of the River commands Flibbertigibbet the otter, “and it had better be on a silver dish.” Distracted and discouraged, Flibbertigibbet searches through the night with no success. His friend, Heron, standing on the riverbank, urges him on: “Use your eyes; use your wits.” In the end, an unexpected source serves as the dish, the Heron helps Flibbertigibbet with the fish and all's well. Humphries writes with skill, striking a balance between lyric touches and a sturdy narrative, but it's his limpid paintings of night on the river—the lavenders of sunset, deep midnight blues, the pinks and oranges of dawn—that make the work stand out. He paints a magical world that is part of this one, yet independent of it (no humans appear). Readers whose imaginations are fired by the secret lives of wild creatures will treasure the otter's story. Ages 3–6. (Sept.)
