A MOON IN YOUR LUNCH BOX

Spooner's first book for young people is an appealing seasonal cycle, thematically linked by the moon—symbol of change and mystery and a rich source of other imagery. These 43 carefully cadenced poems reveal a well-tuned ear but rarely employ conventional rhyme schemes; e.e. cummings seems to have inspired not only the poet's language but its arrangement and often his subjects as well. Spooner has a special ability to evoke imaginative, childlike rumination and delight (``Mud Love'': ``my little bare feet/squirm sweetly in the mud/and the mud/grubbies them snugly/mud gloves...snuggles them grubbily/mud love''). He uses apt comparisons to startle readers into new insights (``Small Miracles'': looking at the world through a telescope, a kaleidoscope, and a poem) and, frequently, evocative phrases (``this great wet walloping day''). Humor isn't the dominant note, but there's enough for leavening. A few holiday poems seem weak, as do the concrete poems; still, kids will enjoy decoding them, and ``Fourth of July,'' an airy mimicry of an exploding rocket—or of the marigold to which it's succinctly compared—is charming. A welcome new voice. Illustrations not seen. (Poetry. 6-12)