THE SHELF-PAPER JUNGLE

Another bittersweet little tale of loss and change in a relationship that's been strengthened by shared artistic endeavors (see also Eleanor, Arthur, and Claire, 1992). This time, a best friendship is soon to be interrupted by a family move. Lila and Frannie have spent happy after-school hours drawing and painting a fantastic jungle on a roll of paper. The day before Frannie's move, they unroll their creation one last time and are drawn magically into it, to dance, swing, fly, and swim through their ``steamy, dreamy, secret jungle through moonlight and starlight and in between.'' Emerging, they cut the paper in two and each takes half, knowing that someday they'll meet again to fill the white space at the end of the roll. The cheerful watercolor art (the girls' stocky, active bodies and broad, open faces are somewhat reminiscent of Steven Kellogg's characters) is framed in wide white borders until the jungle adventure, where it becomes full-bleed. A gentle, reassuring message about the durability of friendship. (Picture book. 5-8)