Big Meeting

Long on atmosphere though short on action, this picture book by a first-time author describes how, every August, the members of an extended African American family head Down Home, ""where the dirt is red, the sky is blue, and berries and wild grapes are just waiting on you."" Everyone assembles for the Big Meeting, a long church service followed by a picnic. Though the young narrator's wandering description of the service may please those already familiar with similar rituals, it doesn't make for an especially compelling story for most picture-book readers. Yet Woodtor emits a satisfying sense of the importance of family and tradition and evokes some memorable images, among them Aunt Hester's response to misbehaving in church: ""If we start giggling at Ol' Man Kinzie who always prays too long, Aunt Hester will give us a good eyeball beating and a tap on the head with her fan."" The hazy mood continues into Johnson's (Seminole Diary) muted, deliberately unpolished illustrations, etchings and aquatints with watercolors and colored pencils. She, too, captures the good feeling among the congregation and the tranquility of the setting, but fails to add much in the way of energy. Ages 5-8. (Aug.)