The Paper Bag Prince

His kingdom is the town dump; his palace, an abandoned railroad carriage at the edge of it. But the Paper Bag Prince (he earned his title by foraging in the litter for bags and other useful objects) is content with his lot, and with his subjects--the stray animals who also call the dump home. His cup runneth over one day when he's informed that the dump has been closed. Soon, he knows, nature will start ``healing the gentle fields that the humans nearly killed with their rubbish.'' There's more happiness in store for him, too--he finally wins his ``Princess,'' a shy dog he coaxes out from the shadows and into his home. Although lacking focus--and a compelling plot--and obviously concocted as a vehicle for a somewhat fuzzy message about caring for the environment, this tale's rambling nature is not without charm. And if the scattered storyline doesn't grab young readers' attentions, the illustrations will. Reminiscent at times of Graeme Base's work (though with a somewhat more bleak edge), Thompson's finely drawn, intricately bordered pages are as crammed with detail and small treasures as the dump itself. Ages 7-12. (Sept.)