ARTHUR

There's one in every flock -- and Arthur is the odd bird out in his. When his whole family flies South in winter, Arthur decides to tour New York instead. Rush hours, subway grates, steaming manholes, Christmas trees, snow and sliding people all enchant the newcomer, just as several of his ingenious forms of amusement will enchant the reader. Do not expect a conventional depiction of New York City in Everett Alson's illustrations. For they are rendered strictly from a bird's -eye view. The book is too wordy to sustain consistent attention, but has its moments of fun.