JACK'S GARDEN

Cole mimics the cumulative technique of ``The House That Jack Built'' to describe the garden the eponymous hero might tend in his backyard. In addition to entertainment, the story provides information on the ecosystem of a simple garden, layering in detail about the flora and fauna it supports. The drawings display proficiency with a colored pencil; the human figures are unimpressive, but they are also scarce—the bulk of the book is given over to birds, bugs, and plants. There are ten variations of the ladybird beetle alone, and nearly as many butterflies. The scenes can be static, but the insect specimens are interesting and accurate. Capped by a lively and elegant design, the book should supplement to an elementary science lesson; what Jack's Garden lacks in personality, it more than makes up for in attention to detail. (Picture book. 3+)