FRANK AND ERNEST

Frank (a bear) and Ernest (an elephant) babysit an old-fashioned diner for three days. The action here is confined to the orders they serve--in each case given in simple English and translated to colorful jargon: ""an English muffin with butter, and a cup of black coffee"" becomes ""Burn the British, cow to cover, and draw one in the dark."" The friends have discovered this colorful language in a book in their own well-furnished library; in addition to the nine meals described in the text, there is an endpaper glossary with another 70 delicious definitions, from Adam's 'ale to yum yum (sugar). In skillfully executed paintings, Day (The Teddy Bear's Picnic') depicts a diner that is sure to evoke nostalgia among old-timers. Children should enjoy adding these novelties to their vocabularies; and making the connections that inspired the descriptions is good fun.