A MOST UNUSUAL LUNCH

The day after a frog swallows a beetle, it awakes with antennae and six tiny extra legs. When a fish swallows the frog, it gets the antennae, the six legs, and two frog's legs. And so on: A snake eats the fish, a croc snaps up the snake, and a lion devours the croc. However, the ludicrous accumulation of appendages is too much for the proud lion, who—by letting out a mighty belch past a newly forked tongue—begins a reversal of the entire process. This amusing variant of a classic pattern is sure to tickle the picture-book crowd, who can chime in on the mounting list of body parts and will especially enjoy the author's comically expressive illustrations with their bold areas of vibrant color outlined in fuzzy-edged black. A concluding meal of grass for all concerned threatens to strike a vegetarian note, but the last image shows the frog hungrily eyeing the beetle again, thus setting up a second reading. Good fun. (Picture book. 2-7)