LOUIS JAMES HATES SCHOOL

It's hard to tell Louis James' age from Morrison's comix style cartoons, but whatever it is this sledgehammer object lesson about a kid who quits school for a job but loses jobs because he can't spell or read makes a misguided picture book. Instead of sugar-coating the lesson, Morrison in effect smears it with catsup. There's no suggestion that learning might have its intrinsic attractions, just a lot of slapped-on gags to help it go down. Thus Louis James works, toward the end, as "". . .Snake Snuggler in a Side Show. Tooth and Fang Brusher at the Zoo. Pea Picker. Pickle Packer. Prune Peeler""--before rushing back to school. Unemployable.