THE PRINCE AND THE SEVEN MOONS

Once in a land beneath the moon there lived a prince who was an astronomer,"" and after staring at the moon through a spy glass nightly for many years, he finally stayed awake all day brooding on the thought that he really knew very little about the moon. All day, he asked the passersby what they knew about it. Each had his own definite conception. To the merchant, the moon was a golden dollar; to the general, a medal; to the baker, a lemon pie; to the farmer; a melon. Finally, a lovely princess took him picnicking and, in her company, the prince at last understood the moon. The irony of ""all things to all people"" that was built up gets lost in the sentimental ending. The sly lack of explanation for the prince and princess' reaction may appeal--briefly and once. The illustrations are in cross-hatched lines with touches of bright yellow, but altogether, it's a slight night light.