THE LITTLE MOON THEATER

A complicated, episodic tale--built on a shaky combination of fantasy and whimsy. The Little Moon Theater--a traveling troupe composed of girl Jo Jo, dog Jip, and cat Nicolette--comes to a village where a little girl is crying because her mother doesn't like her to wear a red sock on one foot and a yellow sock on the other; to another village where a little boy is forlorn because no one appreciates his pet snake; to a third village where a dog is futilely wishing for the moon. And in each village the Little Moon Theater puts on a performance (long stories within the story--with songs besides) which solves the particular, odd problem--and also grants the wish of a fairy grandmother (who turns up magically in each instance) for that very thing to happen. When the third problem has been solved, and the third wish granted, traveling players Jo Jo, Jip, and Nicolette, now suffering from the winter chill, express a wish to be warm--whereupon the fairy grandmother transports them to a trpical island (where she is last seen ""in her old striped bathing suit,"" splashing beside a striped fish). A fey rigamarole without a shred of substance or conviction.