LILY AND THE PRESENT

Lily's new brother ``came into the world with nothing,'' and Lily would like to get something ``big and bright and beautiful'' to supplement his other, boring presents. At Biggs' Department Store, she purchases a big crocodile, a bright chandelier, and a beautiful wedding cake, cheerily saying (as her mother does), ``Charge it, please.'' Alas—none of these grand things will go out the store's revolving door; abandoning them, one by one, Lily admits to herself that they weren't appropriate anyway and uses her own money to buy a balloon: ``And perfect it was.'' With just the right balance between imaginative fantasy and satisfying realism, this reworking of a popular theme makes a stronger, more satisfying story than Lily and the Bears (1991). Again, Ross's color-pencil art is humorous and appealing, though much of the delicate detail will be lost in group sharing. (Picture book. 4- 8)