Adventure on Klickitat Island

Hippely's (The Crimson Ribbon) rhyming four-line stanzas coupled with realistic illustrations by first-time artist Upton chronicle a rainstorm outing. Ensconced in their bed in a house by the sea as a storm rages outside, a boy and his Beary hear faraway cries of distress. ""On Klickitat Island/ just think of the rains,/ now soaking the otters/ and poor baby cranes,"" says the boy. Beary pulls on his raincoat and out the pair goes to row over perilous waves and aid the island animals. Upton's pictures set against a dark blue background and border depict a range of expressions, from the looks of consternation and amazement on the boy's face to the fear and dawning triumph in the eyes of the animals as the boy narrator stands on a tree stump waving his blankie like an aegis and encourages them as they erect a shelter. The more dramatic illustrations occur at the beginning, as readers view lightning stretching across a window and a boat tossing over the sea, whereas the later pages, showing huddled deer, rabbits and otters, grow repetitive. Nonetheless, Hippely's rhythmic first-person tale ends on an upswing, when the sun shines again. Ages 4-8. (May)