The Last Alchemist

Thompson's (The Paradise Garden) latest picture book seethes with the kind of curious detail and odd visual juxtapositions that have become his trademark. This time, he fabricates a rather convoluted fairy tale about an obsessed alchemist. Given a deadline to find the secret of creating gold, Spinifex, the king's 19th alchemist, disregards the advice of his wise young assistant--who returns with a catalyst of ""sunshine, canaries, marigolds,"" and who agrees with the cook's daughter that ""the only true gold is what's in your heart."" The results of the experiments are disastrous for Spinifex, but they ultimately bring contentment to the kingdom. In the end, even the king comes to believe that there are more important things than gold, though this climactic realization takes place offstage. Thompson fans will care little about how thinly the plot hangs together, since the instructive tale takes place within a fantastical visual framework. Cross-sections of dungeons and castles reveal layers of nooks and crannies inhabited by mechanical objects that sprout hands and legs; eyeballs peering out from dark corners; and elfinlike creatures emerging from pockets. A pastoral sweep of farmland camouflages homes nestled in overstuffed armchairs and flying books in place of birds. Savvy older readers will note the sly asides on the spine of a book (""The Spy Who Came in from the Gold"") and a wine bottle's label (""Vin Gogh""), and on many a spread--what has become a running sight gag in Thompson's oeuvre--the ubiquitous ""Caf Max,"" with its red-checked curtains, tucked in like a cheeky footnote. Ages 8-10. (July)