Gregory Cool: 6

Binch (Amazing Grace) makes her debut as a writer with a well-told, if predictable, cross-cultural tale; it is her sparkling watercolors that steal the show. Brilliant blues, yellows and greens evoke the tropical splendor of Tobago, where an African American boy named Gregory is sent to visit his grandparents and cousin Lennox. The obvious issues of culture shock crop up right away-unfamiliar foods, no TV, different games-each magnifying Gregory's discomfort. When he tries to mask his uncertainty with indifference, Lennox shrewdly observes, ``You sure know it all, Gregory. You think you cool.'' A trip to the ocean with their knowing grandparents helps the boys discover some common ground and, as they romp in the water, they find the first threads of friendship. Binch's remarkably lively faces convey a wealth of emotions with which readers will immediately identify: shyness, fear, embarrassment, elation, love. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)