AN ALPHABET OF ROTTEN KIDS!
by David Elliott & illustrated by Oscar de Mejo
In the funniest of these not very funny misdemeanors, ``Jacob,/also known as Jake,/wondered how long it would take/his mom to find the rubber snake/he hid inside her chocolate cake./Oh, Jacob!'' Ranging from naughty to mean or destructive, these young rogues are more likely to amuse kids than adults, though de Mejo's expressive, odd-sized figures and sly humor will appeal to those with a taste for his acclaimed surreal illustrations. For a wittier and better-natured treatment of the subject, see X. J. Kennedy's Brats (1986) or Cole's perennial favorite, Beastly Boys and Ghastly Girls (1964). (Picture book. 4-8)