THE KEY TO MY HEART

Harel, author of more than 40 children's books, delivers a simple, quietly paced story about a father and son's search for missing keys. After an afternoon of playing, Jonathan and his dad realize "five keys on a key chain, with a picture of Jonathan" are lost. They set off to find them, retracing the father's steps through an urban Israeli neighborhood that's subtly different (signs are in Hebrew, a man wears a yarmulke) but will still be familiar to young American readers. They encounter a friendly postal worker who stamps Jonathan's hand, Jack the crazy-haired barber, a pizza maker flipping dough, a helpful newsstand owner and other characters. Eschewing drama (the keys await them at home, where Jonathan's teacher has dropped them off, thanks to the boy's picture), Harel plays off emotional themes that children of every nation will latch on to: the strength of community, the love of family and the reassurance of ordinary routine. Abulafia, a top Israeli illustrator, underscores Harel's words with his uncomplicated, inviting line drawings, adding hints of gentle humor (two cats trail Jonathan and his dad on their search). Quietly reassuring about a world that's often topsy-turvy, this book expresses the importance of community. Ages 3-8. (Mar.)