ELLIOT'S EMERGENCY

If a torn seam for a stuffed toy is like a skinned knee for a child, it's no wonder that Elliot the moose turns to his other toy friends for help in keeping his stuffing from falling out. Socks the monkey tries a safety pin, Lionel the lion binds it up with tape, and by the time Snowy and Puff pour glue on him poor Elliot's leg is a sticky mess. Luckily, Beaverton knows what to do. He calmly cleans up his friend's leg and then stitches the hole closed, giving Elliot sewing lessons so he'll be prepared for the next emergency. In her picture-book debut, Beck draws her soft heroes to look suitably squeezable; clearly they are toys, but they appear in brighter colors than those found in Jane Hissey's Old Bear books. The scenario is one children might conjure when playing with stuffed toys, and all the injury-related emotions are gently explored. The coaching Elliot gets on learning to sew hints at self-sufficiency, without becoming didactic.