BASIL AND HILLARY

Zalben expands on the popular animal sounds theme by putting the cat's meow, the cow's moo, etc., into the context of ten animals' offers to build a house for their newly paired off friends, pigs Basil and Hillary. After each neighbor has made his contribution a storm undoes all the work--but never mind; when the sun comes out Hillary, wallowing in a puddle, decides that the field is a perfect home as is. But Zalben's flat drawings and lifeless colors, which would be decoration enough for a stronger story, don't support Hillary's conclusion. Sunny and mild.