WHERE'S THE CAT'? WHERE'S THE DOG? WHERE'S THE GUINEA PIG? WHERE'S THE TURTLE?

Four small-sized board books encourage the toddler to observe familiar pets in the house and yard as they run, eat, drink and rest. The final page is a flap that lifts to answer the title question: ""Where's the. . ."" As the cat, turtle and guinea pig all go into the garden, there is little drama in the final flap. The dog goes under the bed, which is a nice change, but we are not told why, either in text or illustration. The softly colored illustrations in pencil and watercolors are mildly fanciful but bland. The round-eyed cat and bug-eyed dog owe more to cartoons than nature. The turtle seems to be a land turtle with a high-domed shell and upright head carriage; he eats fruit and goes into his shell like a land turtle, but he is also shown going for a swim. Land turtles don't. The guinea pig has a most uncharacteristic nose. These titles lack the originality and warmth of other books for young children created by this author and illustrator.