THE HUNGRY LITTLE BOY

A young child closely observes his grandma as she prepares a snack by peeling a carrot, spreading the peanut butter on bread, arranging three cookies and an apple on a plate. Blos (A Seed, A Flower, A Minute, An Hour, 1992, etc.) describes each step with brief but sensual precision: ``Next she peeled the carrot until it was smooth and shiny. Then she cut it neatly into pieces nice to eat.'' Schutzer's paintings add plenty of feeling; using oils applied with relatively large brushes, she renders the pleased- looking lad and his smiling blond grandparent in broad, impressionistic strokes. A simple, familiar episode with beginning, middle, and end, plus gentle repetition, it is made for sharing, with opportunities to identify shapes and colors and to count. (Picture book. 2-4)