The Front Hall Carpet

An inventive girl with a knack for turning floor coverings into settings for diverting adventures discovers that a little imagination goes a long way. A striped hall carpet of variegated blues becomes a river in which she paddles her canoe, fishes for trout and swims with crocodiles. The green dining room carpet resembles a grassy field, ideal for a game of croquet or a picnic. The girl fancies herself a queen in a throne room inspired by the kitchen's brightly colored tile floor, and the shaggy, white living room rug turns into a polar bear that carries her through the snow. In the bedrooms, a polka-dot rug and a carpet with a maze-like pattern provide additional fun. Heller ( Fish Stories ; Mathilda the Dream Bear ) sets the stage for imaginative at-home play in this fanciful book, which--at the very least--is likely to change the way children look at the rugs underfoot. Ages 3-up. (Aug.)