THE SHOPPING BASKET

Burningham (Courtney, 1994, etc.) adds a winner to the rest of his collection of light gems. Steven's mother sends him to the store to buy groceries, but on the way back he is accosted by a series of animals, each with a demand for a goodie. Steven's wit gets him out of each scrape, but he has to sacrifice an item every time, e.g., he throws a doughnut through a gap in a fence and dares the pig that's been threatening him to try to squeeze through and an elephant is conned into sticking its trunk through a mail slot. In addition to its entertainment value, the story becomes a counting exercise as readers keep track of the disappearing groceries. The ending is abrupt, but the trip is worthwhile, marked by sure pacing, quirky humor, and an airy style of illustration that belies its sophistication. (Picture Book. 3-7)