In the Tall, Tall Grass

An adventurous caterpillar unassumingly leads readers on an afternoon excursion through a backyard, unveiling nature's sights and sounds from a larva's perspective. Measured in caterpillar steps the journey is long, and before reaching the yard's end, it's time to sleep, with fireflies and bats visible in the night sky. This gentle tale is far from quiet, however--among other things, ``bees hum,'' ``wings flap'' and ``moles scratch.'' An array of vibrant verbs and boisterous onomatopoeic words in bold black type bounce across the pages, describing the various creatures (``zip, zap, tongues snap'' accompanies fly-catching frogs). Fleming's textured paper and bold, almost neon hues are a perfect match for her rough-hewn animal shapes and blades of grass. The ultimate kaleidoscope effect makes this title ideal for sharing with young explorers. Ages 2-6. (Sept.)