Sheep Out to Eat

Shaw and Apple offer more sheep shenanigans featuring the fractious flock that wreaked hilarious havoc in Sheep in a Jeep , Sheep on a Ship and Sheep in a Shop . Shaw's tongue-twisting rhymes, which here chronicle five sheep's attempt to eat at a tearoom, are as simply clever as ever. From the start, it's clear that this crew is out of its element. After feline waiters bring them menus, the sheep ``point to words that they can't read.'' When ``Waiters bring them spinach custard,'' the sheep ``add sugar, salt, and mustard.'' Things go downhill quickly--and riotously--after the diners put pepper on their cake and begin sneezing wildly, upsetting tables and sending cups and dishes crashing to the floor. Asked to leave the premises, ``Sheep pout. Sheep walk out. Suddenly they look about.'' The faces on Apple's wonderfully expressive creatures suddenly light up, for what they see is a lush lawn, which seems a perfect lunchtime munch. On the last page, the fleecy fivesome gambol down the road, in search (readers will hope) of more mirthful mischief. Ages 2-5. (Sept.)