CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL

Catchy calypso songs, many of the 13 familiar (``Day-O''; ``Michael Row the Boat''; ``Yellow Bird''; ``Kingston Market''), four actually written by Burgie (who worked with Harry Belafonte as ``Lord Burgess''), the rest traditional songs that he's arranged. Included are simple piano accompaniments and chords; an afterword by Rosa Guy on the origins of calypso and these songs in particular—work songs, children's games, and comments (some satirical) on events. Lessac's brilliantly decorative primitive paintings, sprinkled with jewel-like details like a Caribbean version of the Unicorn Tapestries, sing with gloriously intense island colors: the perfect complement to these wonderfully singable songs. (Nonfiction. 3+)