ADELINE SCHLIME

The pictures squander a great deal of skill on what is no more than a situation-and a trifling, largely static one at that. Snail Adeline Schlime is preparing (not even for the first time) ""to sing the lead role in the well-known snail operetta, Slow but Easy."" Husband Alfred Schlime is preparing to go with her. Son Oscar, ""the slowest snail in town,"" is dilly-dallying. (Son Oscar is also the only one whose behavior is particularly snail-like.) For page after page--and, presumably, hour after hour--the preparations proceed. Finally the snails affix themselves to a hubcab and so cadge a ride to the theater. ""When they finally arrive, everyone is anxiously awaiting Mrs. Schlime's arrival."" No one, however, more so than the reader--if he or she hasn't anticipated Oscar and fallen asleep.