LET'S PLAY CARDS!

This offering in the Ready-to-Read series, subtitled ``A First Book of Card Games,'' pairs basic information and simple, sprightly illustrations. Silbaugh teaches suits, number cards, face cards, shuffling, and dealing before progressing through specific instructions for five simple card games, including War, Go Fish, and Crazy Eights. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Cool Carl the Card Shark, a cartoon character who functions much like the bugs in Cricket magazine, provides more detailed information about some of the games in margin notes. He also dispenses humorous asides and a reminder about good sportsmanship: ``It is remembering not to gloat too much.'' An inviting introduction, this book looks pretty silly while conveying plenty of facts to those who are serious about their cards. (Nonfiction. 6-9)