Carousel

``Off went the sneakers. On went the bows. Off went the jeans. On came the frills.'' Alex's mother and aunts have made a birthday dinner, but the African American girl is not pleased: her father, en route home from a trip, still hasn't arrived. Alex's grumpiness gets the best of her when her mother gives her the present her father has picked out--a miniature carousel--and the child realizes that he definitely won't make it home. Sent to bed without cake, Alex snaps the tiny zebra off the carousel. After falling asleep, she ``awakens'' to see it and the other carousel animals fly out the window--and magically grow. She follows, and is treated to a ride through the night sky on the festively painted creatures' backs. Her father is there when she wakes up in the morning, and after exchanging apologies (he for missing her birthday; she for breaking his gift), all ends happily. Though its message will reassure children dealing with anger, the story never takes wing, and the dream sequence seems gratuitous. The book's strong point is Cummings's ( Clean Your Room, Harvey Moon! ) affecting, vividly hued art, which depicts the realistic and the fanciful scenes with equal vibrancy. Ages 5-8. (Apr.)