THE GOLDEN LOCKET
by Carol Greene & illustrated by Marcia Sewall
The locket found under Miss Teaberry's apple tree is nothing but a bother—it's too fancy to go with any of her dresses, and she lies awake worrying that a robber will steal it. So she asks the milkman to take it to an ``enchanting young girl'' down the road, saying that it's a gift from a secret admirer. In return, she receives a basket of puppies, which are such trouble that she packs them off—again, anonymously—to a winsome young boy up the road. He reciprocates by sending his ``secret admirer'' a raucous parrot. The gift-giving escalates until both Miss Teaberry and the milkman are exhausted. Ingenious Miss T. arranges a meeting between the girl and boy, who fall in love at once and are married. The wry humor of this Indian folk-tale adaptation is reinforced by spirited gouache illustrations in crayon-y colors, setting it in storytime America. Excellent for group sharing. (Picture book. 4-9)