Island Baby

Aglow with the brilliant colors of the Caribbean landscape, Keller's ( Goodbye, Max ; Horace ) watercolor paintings positively dazzle the eye. Her crisply defined, unadorned scenes portray the rich blue of the sky, the glimmering turquoise of the sea and the rainbow of shades found in various species of native birds. The story centers on an amiable boy who rescues a wounded baby flamingo and, with the help of a kindly older man who is a bird doctor, nurses it back to health. At summer's close, Simon reluctantly goes with Pops to set the healed flamingo free. Carrying a basket of laundry on her head, Simon's mother comforts him--and lets him know how proud she is of him--at the end of this gentle, reassuring tale. As an extra visual treat, Keller decorates the left-hand pages (those containing text) with borders featuring flamingos, gulls, pelicans and other vibrantly hued birds. Ages 4-up. (Aug.)