THE SURPRISE PARTY
By
Rabbit wants his party to be a surprise and it is -- to Owl who thinks he whispered that he's ""hoeing the parsley tomorrow,"" to Squirrel who thinks Owl whispered that Rabbit's ""going to sea tomorrow,"" to Duck who thinks Squirrel whispered ""climbing a tree,"" to Mouse who thinks Duck whispered ""riding a flea,"" to Fox who thinks Mouse whispered ""raiding the poultry,"" to Frog who thinks Fox whispered ""reading poetry."" And each according to his own miscomprehension (Frog: ""His own, I suppose, How dull"") rejects Rabbit's ""surprise"" until he announces loud and clear ""I'M HAVING A PARTY"" -- whereupon they remonstrate ""Why didn't you say so?"" The way words can get twisted in transit is illustrated, verbally and pictorially, with engaging aplomb. It's a cheerful earful, a careful snarefull snafu for the very young -- no diddling.