THE CLOSET GORILLA
by Frances Ward Weller & illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith
Ben's family has an excellent tradition: ``half the fun of Halloween is using your imagination with whatever's in the closet.'' A Tarzan costume is easy: his leopard-spotted bathing suit and an old sheepskin rug. But where to get an ape? The baby's ``white plush monkey with a pink nose and strained carrots on one ear'' seems inadequate. Ben hopes Great-uncle Hugo, an actor, can help—and so he does, materializing at the last moment in full gorilla gear and even scaring off the neighborhood bullies. Not every boy has such a colorful uncle, and this one's appearance rather undermines the theme of creative making do; but Weller narrates with such wit and good sense that readers won't mind. Smith's deftly scribbled line and muted Halloween colors provide the perfect low-key accompaniment to a satisfying story. (Picture book. 5-8)*justify no*