THE HONEY HUNTERS

``Cheka, cheka, che!'' cries the honey guide. ``If you want honey, follow me!'' First a boy joins the little bird, then—one by one—a crowd of animals. They trek through the bush, find the hive, and the boy divides the honeycomb, giving a piece to the rooster and the bush cat to share, another to the lion and the zebra, etc. But the animals begin to squabble, and, despite the boy's efforts to make peace, the quarrels persist to this day. In Kenya-born Martin's decorative watercolors, the flora and fauna are depicted with loving care, while soft geometric borders, painted by Helen Read, delicately reflect their jewel-like colors. A satisfying cumulative tale, handsomely presented. (Folklore/Picture book. 4-8)