STELLA AND ROY

Aesop's ``The Hare and the Tortoise'' is reenacted by two preschoolers racing ``around the lake,'' in what could be a San Francisco park, to a popcorn stand. Stella's ``bike'' is a chunky three-wheeler; she's quick but stops often to admire gulls and turtles, goldfish and geese. With Dad's help, Roy comes along on a toddler's slow mount; though he smiles and waves at friendly dogs and babies, he ``roll[s] right on by.'' ``Rotten egg!'' he yells as Stella reaches the goal, but when she says, ``Please,'' he shares his popcorn. It's a happy outing all around, with lots of birds and animals to spot in Wolff's handsome linoleum prints. These outgoing, self-assured kids are beautifully observed; depicted in definitive black with joyfully bright added colors, their excursion makes a cheerful, attractive book. (Picture book. 3-7)