SCHOOL PICTURE DAY

Plourde's (Wild Child) zany portrait delivers a puckish message about nonconformity—along with a classroomful of giggles. Josephina Caroleena Wattasheena the First is the only kid in class who isn't dressed for picture day—she's too busy with her toolbox, "fidgeting, fiddling, fuddling, and foopling." Her research leaves her classmates' best clothes spattered with sawdust and oil. The photographer lines the class up and tries to take their picture ("Birdie wants a cheesy cheesy") only to be confronted with more "fidgeting, fiddling, fuddling, and foopling." But when his camera doesn't work, who should fix it but Josephina? In waggish cartoon spreads and vignettes, Wickstrom (Hiccup Snickup) provides clouds of smoke, drifting feathers and 23 children with big smiles and a lot of missing teeth. A winning snapshot of an unconventional heroine whose curiosity saves the day. Ages 5-8. (July)