THE MISSING TARTS

Beginning with ""The Queen of Hearts,"" Hennessy has fashioned a new rhymed tale involving several other characters from Mother Goose, each in turn joining the search for the missing sweets: Jack and Jill, King Cole, Old Mother Hubbard, etc. The tarts are found at last: the knave, who seems to be the queen's affectionate little boy, is giving them to the hungry children who live in the shoe. Pearson illustrates this delightful romp with her usual verve and carefully orchestrated abandon, rounding the story with a motherly kiss--plus a tribute to Caldecott: a pink-and-green dish running away with a spoon on the last page. A nifty introduction to the concept of literary allusions, and good fun in its own right.