ROUGH DAY AT LOON LAKE

A clever tale with real charm, wherein a couple of young animals score a victory on the golf course after nearly being indignantly ushered from the fairway. Wally, Robyn, Justin, and Nobu look forlornly after the ice cream truck. They haven’t any money, and it is too darn hot to work for some. When they happen across a pond and nearby beach, they are ecstatic. Only Nobu, a turtle whom Griffiths (Ballerinas Don’t Wear Glasses, not reviewed, etc.) has delightfully decked out in cutoffs and Wellingtons, seems to know it is a golf course and they may not be welcome. Cool water, shady trees: “ ‘What more could we want?’ Wally asked. ‘Golf clubs?’ Nobu suggested. ‘A tee time?’ ” Lounging in the water and stretching in the sand, they soon run afoul of a foursome of bears, who try to run them from the course, until they realize that the youngsters might be able to salvage a few golf balls from the drink, at a quarter apiece. Hey, presto—cooled off and rich in no time. An ingenious story, with the added fillip of outlaw behavior and some deliciously playful art. (Picture book. 4-7)