Big Bear's Treasury, Volume 1: PB: The Blue Collection a Children's Anthology

Rather than reflecting this volume's content, its title refers to the publisher's logo, a candlestick-carrying bear. No apparent theme connects the entries in the book, which collects the work of an impressive array of authors and illustrators, most of whom hail from England. Such luminaries as Helen Oxenbury, Jan Ormerod and John Burningham contribute stories for the very young. Other highlights are playful verses by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake; ``Can't You Sleep, Little Bear?,'' a bedtime story by Martin Waddell, illustrated by Barbara Firth; and the text and selected art from Jill Murphy's picture book Five Minutes' Peace . The selections--the bulk of which have been previously published--are geared to an unusually broad range of age levels, making this book appropriate for families with preschoolers as well as elementary-level readers. Ages 3-up. (Apr.)