Elephant and Crocodile

Crocodile loves to play his violin, especially late at night. Annoyed at the constant repetition--and the constant wrong notes, his neighbor Elephant complains, but to no avail: ``Crocodile said he was an artist.'' When Elephant discovers a latent artistic streak of his own, the tensions--and the cacophony--escalate, until finally the two are shamed into a less competitive and infinitely more harmonious arrangement. Velthuijs ( Frog in Love ) paints his animal characters with simple strokes that nonetheless yield a satisfying and very funny range of expressions: exuberance, consternation, stubbornness, raw aggression and conciliation, to name just a few. His lesson on the fine art of cooperation is delivered with rousing good humor and a sure, deft touch. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)