Come to My Party Come to My Party

Introduced in Richardson's The Way Home , Savi the elephant here attends a birthday celebration in the jungle with his bird friend, Harold. When the two are awakened from a nap by a leopard's roar, the diminutive Harold is a bit nonplussed. Savi tells him not to worry, since ``That's how leopards talk.'' Harold spies three leopards having a party, and Savi speculates that perhaps their roar was in fact an invitation; the pals join in, bringing a floral crown as a gift. As Harold perches on Savi's trunk, wearing a party hat just like the others, his fear disappears while he helps devour the birthday cake--and stays to pick up every last crumb from the jungle floor. Richardson's meager narrative is given needed distinction by Mavor's uncommonly detailed fabric relief art. Surrounded by richly textured borders reflecting indigenous hues, her illustrations have an exceptional three-dimensional quality, making the jungle flora and fauna seem to pop right off the page. Ages 3-6. (Mar.)