Night of the Moonjellies

This beautifully illustrated picture book debut evokes the fullness of a New England childhood through descriptions of a single summer day. Seven-year-old Mark is helping at his grandmother's seaside hot dog stand, purveyor of ``the best lobster rolls in New England.'' He finds ``something that felt like jelly'' on the beach, but further investigation is postponed by the hubbub at the stand: ``Fries crackled. Cheeseburgers sizzled. `More rolls!' called Uncle Al. `Rushing through!' Gram said, carrying a kettle of clam chowder up front. `Low on straws!' Rollie shouted. I hurried to fill the box.'' When the busy day ends, Gram and Mark take a boat out to sea, where Mark sees an oceanful of shimmering white lights--moonjellies--and returns his to the water. The text offers a wide range of tones, from soothing to stimulating, but the book's greatest strength lies in its artwork. Shimmering blues and greens suggest the iridescence of the tranquil night sea; vibrant reds and oranges capture the harried humans. A strongly atmospheric work. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)