Good Morning Granny

Ludwig makes his children's book debut with this wittily illustrated but slight retelling of an Arkansas folktale about a lost traveler who discovers a secret about hibernating bears. After watching the sunrise, Granny and her soulful hound Henry escape from a snowstorm into a cave where the wise lady calms a restlessly sleeping bear as if he were a toddler by putting his paw back in his mouth. Although the book has certain weaknesses--an insubstantial plot, forced dialect and a lack of characterizing detail--Ludwig's humorous illustrations of plump Granny Rose and her obliging dog are nonetheless engaging. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)