Baa, Baa Black Sheep: 9

Immensely cheerful Victoriana irradiates the sturdy pages of these board book versions of four nursery rhyme favorites. The fun here--and there is fun aplenty--is found chiefly in Kemp's imaginative details and inventive scenarios. The scampering rodent in Hickory, Dickory, Dock , for example, is not running up the clock for mischievous purposes; rather, bearing a rag and bucket, he intends to clean the timepiece. His coveralls are supported by an oversize safety pin, and a hairbrush (perhaps for whiskers?) protrudes from a pocket. The shelves of the black sheep's shop are chock-a-block with bottles, boxes, brushes, fabric and twine--there are even dainty pastries on the counter. The top of each book is die-cut in the shape of its protagonist's head, and the covers present jolly front and back views of the animal stars. Nary a wrong note in this quartet of quality. Ages 2-4. (Aug.)