Vendela in Venice

Bj rk (Linnea in Monet's Garden) offers an engaging view of Venice from the perspective of an affable Swedish girl visiting the city with her father. Brief chapters, usually two to three pages, follow the duo's wanderings through the city and dip into Venetian history, culture and legend. Childlike imagery dots Vendela's anecdotal narrative: arriving in Venice by boat at night is ""like sailing into the middle of a play."" And while Vendela is clearly caught up in all that is ""magical"" about this floating city, she makes down-to-earth observations, too. She notes the ""masses of plastic bottles"" in the canal and, bored on a visit to the Accademia Museum, she discovers that it's best to look ""at what is happening along the bottom of the pictures.... There are often funny little details, even on sad paintings."" Eriksson (who collaborated with Bj rk on The Other Alice) animates this breezy travelogue with realistic illustrations that accurately capture everything from architectural details to facial expressions; her style sits well alongside the numerous photographs and reproductions included here. A pleasant armchair excursion that will stir readers' wanderlust. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)