SALT BOY

The author of Rubber Boy (1962, p.914, J-270) and several others has added just another volume to his series. Using a fictional character to convey the facts, he tells the story of salt in the words of Abdullah Hammal, an Egyptian exchange student in Texas. Detailed information about salt-- from mining to processing-- is presented in clear, but monotonous prose, and the author's black and white illustrations (although too heavily shaded and lacking in contrast) are instructive, following the text closely. However, Abdullah's presence is unnecessary; the straight facts are interesting enough alone, and, if anything, the author's attempt to speak in the words of an exchange student sounds at times like a dull social studies report.