BABOON

Another intimate tàte-Ö-tàte between mother and child from the creators of Spider, Spider (1996); here a baboon takes her baby on a walk through the bush, providing gentle commentary on his pronouncements. He waits for a turtle to pass, and notes, ``The world is slow.'' ``It can be.'' Of a fire, he says, ``The world is hot!'' ``Not always.'' Upon seeing a crocodile, he says, ``The world is hungry.'' ``Sometimes you are hungry, too.'' Hallensleben dims the light and saturates the page with greens and browns in his broadly brushed paintings to create a tranquil, cozy feeling perfectly attuned to the comforting tone of such tender give-and-take. First-rate lap and bedtime reading. (Picture book. 1-3)