Rose and Dorothy

Rose is a mouse with a too-large house and a heart as big as all outdoors. Dorothy, an elephant, is as big as all outdoors, but ``to Rose, Dorothy was larger than life and twice as charming.'' When Rose invites Dorothy to move in, this arrangement seems doomed, for even the sturdy house cannot accommodate the pachyderm's stair-crunching footsteps and well-meaning but destructive way of cleaning the kitchen. Prim Rose is overwhelmed. Dorothy finally leaves, but soon finds a happy solution to this endearingly problematic tale. There is little text, but Schwartz's humorous, imaginative illustrations tell the story well. The book casts a funny yet sympathetic look at these mismatched friends, who accept the fact that they make better neighbors than roommates. Ages 3-7. (Mar.)