THE SNOW CAT

From the late author of such splendidly evocative books as Cowboy Dreams (1990, ALA Notable), a leisurely, folkloric story. Elsie, who lives in a lonely cabin, prays for a cat for company; God sends her a huge cat of snow. At first, she's careful to keep it outside, but eventually she yields to temptation, bringing it in by the fire; melting, it forms a cat-shaped pond where— solitary again—she can skate or swim. The art here, done ``many years ago,'' exhibits the strong composition and bold color that later won Khalsa acclaim, but its style is quintessentially simple—a broad black line defining flat areas of color to created stylized forms. There's a quietly imaginative appeal here, but the book is mostly of interest to complete Khalsa's oeuvre. (Picture book. 4-8)