HANK'S WORK

The author of Luigi's All-Night Parking Lot (1990) enriches a story about a boy—a boy whose dad is too busy to recognize the importance of his son's activities—with a fantasy element dramatizing the intensity of a child's imagination. Hank, who loves to work at Dad's studio worktable, is in the midst of coloring a picture when Dad peremptorily commandeers the room for his own work: ``Go play somewhere else. Now scram!'' Complaining that he's ``not playing'' but ``working,'' Hank retires to his room, where he uses an ``acid-green crayon'' to draw a dinosaur so real that it escapes the page. Mom, out fixing the car, is startled by the huge beast but stays calm; Dad is definitely scared. After a rather confusing transition in which the big creature vanishes, Dad checks to see whether Hank is all right, apologizes, and compliments him on his ``work.'' Worthwhile point, well made. The bold, stylized forms and bright colors will be fine for groups; also, a good choice to share with the art teacher. (Picture book. 4-7)