The Pottery Place

In this book, there is talk of recipes, mixing and baking; the subject is not food but, among other things, food utensilsmugs, teapots, bowlsand the setting is not the kitchen but the potter's workshop. Gibbons handily relates the ancient process of poettery-making from clay, complete with the creative dynamics of the spinner's wheel and the bracing powers of the kiln. The artist's characteristic use of straight lines and beaming colors serves here to convey the underlying simplicity of this timeless, civilizing activity. It's one of the season's most thoughtful nonfiction offerings. Ages 4-8. (October)