WILLIAM AND BOOMER

An abrupt ending limits an otherwise handsome first effort by a promising illustrator. William longs to swim like his adopted pet Canadian goose, Boomer; but he must wait, his parents say, until the water at his lakeside home is warmer. Story and art work nicely together to capture both the growth of Boomer--from fluffy gosling to sleek, handsome goose--and activities associated with living near the water. The dramatic. full-color art offers an interesting series of close-up views and varying perspectives, giving the reader an intimate feeling for both the setting and characters. Landscape scenes and pictures of the goose are strikingly evocative, but the realistically drawn humans are slightly awkward. The rapidity with which William learns to swim and the sudden conclusion weaken the story's impact, however.