THRUMP O MOTO

The best-selling author of Shogun issues a saccharine coffee-table bed time story about a pretty little cripple who takes a magic journey and learns to walk. Thrump-O-Moto, a tiny Japanese wizard, drops into Patricia's Australian ranch by mistake and takes her to Japan, where he battles the bad Nurk-u, whose nails are the source of her disability; on they go to England to find ESP (Essence of Sunset Primroses) before Patricia returns to her parents: loving, handsome Dad, sensuously described, and busy Mum, conveniently invisible. Stereotypical bits of information about each country are included along the way. The storytelling is practiced but condescending; the opulent illustrations and format are eye-catching and in the spirit of the text. Sure to be a money-maker.