Down at the Bottom of the Deep Dark Sea

Andrew, the tow-headed lad featured in this story by the author of the Germy books, hates water--``All kinds of water.'' But more than water in the tub, water that sprays from the sprinkler or falls from the sky, the ``roaring water'' at the beach terrifies the child. He imagines there are ``pinching crabs and slimy monsters'' at the bottom of the sea--waiting to get him. But one day, while building an elaborate sand city by the ocean, the boy unexpectedly conquers his fear of water, much to the delight of his family. Whether reluctant or intrepid swimmers, most young readers are apt to see a bit of themselves in the fearful Andrew. From the youngsters' expressive faces to the crashing waves, Wright-Frierson's soft watercolors are marked by a tender realism. In playful contrast to her style are the primitive sea monsters drawn by her six-year-old daughter, Amy. Ages 3-5. (Mar.)