I Wonder If See Whale

With its haunting, often poetic text and dramatic, sumptuously colored paintings, this is a book to savor. Weller and Lewin bring readers on board a boat off the New England coast, where a girl waits anxiously to catch sight of one of the humpback whales that frequent these waters in summer. She has been on whale-watching xpeditions before, and has seen ``spouts far off and shadows in the mist.'' But she has never really seen a whale, and is hoping that today will be the day she catches more than a fleeting glimpse of these graceful mammals. She is not disappointed: after watching some whales play hide-and-seek with the boat, the girl finally comes face-to-face with a curious, friendly humpback. She is deeply moved: ``It's not a game. It's more like church.'' Readers, too, will feel as though they have come into close contact with a very special creature. Ages 4-8. ( March )