
A whimsical tale about a bear who imagines that the moon and clouds are personified: He's sad to think the moon won't dance with him; when the morning clouds descend as fog, he's delighted that at least they've answered his invitation, but when the fog lifts, he worries: ``Do you think I could have stepped on their toes...?'' he asks Little Bird. Later, dancing with the rain the clouds send is fun; but Bear's real wish comes true when he spies the moon's reflection in a puddle--at last he can dance with it, too. Asch's gentle text has just the right light touch, building logically and without overcontrivance. His simple forms--areas of flat color boldly outlined in lighter tones--combine in a handsome graphic design with the creative use of varied frames and sophisticated colors: the liveliness and simplicity of his appealing images are perfect for very small ``readers.'' (Picture book. 2-6)