WHAT ARE ROSES FOR?

Another successful effort from Stoddard and Chwast, who collaborated on I Like You (1965). Stoddard poses a series of questions that evoke the sense of wonder children bring to everyday encounters. In this lively literary escapade, a boy, a girl, an elephant, and a clown tumble through life, questioning the uses of noses, the value of brains, the purpose of the sun, and much more. The answers are just as beguiling as the questions, e.g., faces are not just faces, they are ""the friendly side of your head."" Chwast's intense, colorful illustrations have the look of woodcuts, harking back to a simpler time while conveying all the joy and curiosity of childhood. The words and pictures will enchant toddlers, while the ideas will give older children much to contemplate.