HOW TO LIVE FOREVER

As with Thompson's Ruby (1994), this book may have more appeal for literate, pun-loving picture-book collectors than for children, but there are few readers who won't come away impressed with the sheer detail of the illustrations. The book's premise involves a library that is filled with life each night, as the books become small cities and neighborhoods housing small people. A young boy, Peter, and his cat, Brian, leave their home in a cookbook called Quinces to undertake a very long search for a long-missing book entitled How to Live Forever. Finally he comes across two old men who lead him to ``the Ancient Child. He was both young and old, ten and timeless at the same time.'' The Child cautions Peter not to read the book, and, after lengthy contemplation, Peter takes that advice. The Ancient Child approves of Peter's wisdom and leads him back to ``the world.'' The library is full of overstocked shelves and books bearing oddly familiar titles: A Tale of Two Sitars, On the Toad, Withering Tights. Children may not grow wiser for reading this book, but they will have their eyes filled—and thoughts provoked—on every page of amusing details and visual pranks. (Picture book. 7+)