A BUSY YEAR

This tall, thin book opens to nearly square spreads that nicely accommodate collages of two mice and their friend, a fruit tree that talks. Each month, the mice notice how she changes— buds swell, blooms open, leaves fall—as they also learn about her needs (there's even a bit of drama when they put out a threatening fire). It's a genial tale, visually strong—Lionni, thrice a Caldecott Honor winner, has a sense of design that's unabated—but a bit weak on logic: the big, red fruit doesn't grow all summer; it just appears in September, ripe. Maybe the stork brought it. Still, nice. (Picture book. 3-8)