JO-JO THE TALKING CROW

Jo-Jo was a baby crow found by Andy. Laura Bannon, author-artist, recounts the hilarious repercussions of the misalliance of the bird -- a peripatetic prankster- and the boy, his champion. A running feud develops with Aunt Hattie, a doughty matron, when the bird discovers bright red cherries on her new hat and alights thereon. Later he disrupts a lawn party and is banished to the country at Uncle Ned's farm. Andy is overjoyed when the bird finds his way back home -- until Jo-Jo flies off with Aunt Hattie's diamond ring. Fortuitously Andy discovers the cache where Jo-Jo hides such trinkets and all ends happily. The illustrations are lively, sure, deft -- almost caricatures. Laura Bannon is remarkably versatile. A few lines suffice to tell all significant details in her pictures -- the aggressiveness of the crow, the righteous grandeur of Aunt Hattie's posture or the uptilted anticipation of childish faces. Very engaging with admirable art work.