THIS IS THE HAT

Van Laan (Possum Come a-Knockin', 1990) tells another story with a rambunctious lilt: a circular tale about a hat, dropped by an old man, put to amusing uses by a variety of humans and other creatures before getting back to its original owner. Sound- mimicking words are worked into the illustrations on every spread, inviting young listeners to join in, and the text can be made to scan, though the reader-aloud will do well to work out the trickier rhythms in advance. In a promising debut, Meade provides what look like collages of torn paper in origami colors, their edges separated by a jagged line of white that defines the simple forms. The effect is colorful, graphically handsome; more important, it ebulliently conveys the lively action here. A good choice for the preschool group. (Picture book. 2-6)