The School Bus Comes at Eight O'Clock

McKee, illustrator of Two Monsters , makes his writing debut in describing a clock-free family that acquires one, then two, then four timepieces. Although the narrative is slightly short on zing, there's appeal to spare in the richly textured pastel spreads. The tale opens on Jennifer and Eric Gilbert's first day of school. As the title indicates, the school bus comes at eight, but the children aren't quite sure when to look for it--their parents don't own so much as a sundial. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert buy a rickety grandfather clock to remedy the situation, then add a backup in case the first ticker fails; although the hourly chimes keep them awake at night, they collect two more clocks before reverting to their original ways. This agreeable story is not for technophobes alone: the clocks and the opening of school demonstrate the importance of schedules (perhaps this is why, when the grandfather clock stops permanently at eight, the Gilberts keep it as a reminder of the a.m. bus and p.m. bedtime). Philosophical considerations aside, McKee's slightly smeary, blocky compositions--which retain their brightness despite an unusually heavy application of color--warrant a good look. Ages 4-8. (May)