A NEW HOUSE FOR THE MORRISONS
by Penny Carter & illustrated by Penny Carter
Though little Albert likes their house, his parents are tired of it (``too plain''; ``too much grass to cut''), so they get realtor Mr. Sharkey to show them around—giving Carter a chance for some fanciful exaggeration of houses these alligators declare to be ``too large,'' ``too new'' (Albert writes his name on a modernistic white expanse), ``too old'' (ghosts), unfriendly, overcrowded, etc. At last they spot the perfect house (``Such a big lawn!...We could plant a nice garden'')—their old one. With a predictable but satisfying outcome, a briskly amusing text, and sunny illustrations featuring amusingly expressive animal characters and many comical details, a promising debut. (Picture book/Easy reader. 4-8)