TRACKS

When Albert, who is supervising the laying of new railroad track, drops his glasses, things get a little blurry. He has no time to go home for his spare pair. His hard-working crew puts down track through Sally's Pond, around cows that look like boulders, through a barn, and over some pine tree ""mountains."" Fortunately for Albert, the Mayor loves the wacky ride on the train's inaugural run, and all's well that ends well. This starts with a funny premise, but because readers see, every step of the way, the truth behind Albert's mistakes, the second trip over the track (with the mayor) is a letdown. Arnold uses a looser style than usual, but the broad humor of the illustrations can't carry the piece.