BENJAMIN'S PORTRAIT

Benjamin the hamster is back. this time to essay a sell-portrait. Inspired by a visit to a gallery displaying animal portraits, Benjamin provides himself with easel and water paints. The pencil sketch is easy; the paints cause problems for Benjamin but delight for the viewer, as Benjamin's sneeze into powder paint dusts him with rosy color to which is added brilliant hues from the tubes he backs into, all deliciously mellowed by his first attempts to clean up. In fact, he paints himself as he himself paints--not much story, but Baker's delicately precise illustrations are as perfect as his elegant, comic, klutzy hamster clown.