ELEPHANTS ALOFT
by Kathi Appelt & illustrated by Keith Baker
When two little Indian elephants get an invitation from their African auntie, they set out to pay her a visit. Getting ``in'' a balloon, they fly ``above'' the onion-shaped domes of their homeland, ``through'' clouds, ``between'' towering cliffs, ``behind'' a waterfall, and even ``beyond'' a rainbow before climbing ``out'' at Aunti Rwanda's thatched hut. Except for the beginning and end, the text consists of just one preposition on each handsome spread; the story and travelogue are all in the expansive art. Kids enjoying the adventure may never notice that they're getting a vocabulary lesson, but they'll be intrigued by the elephants' antics and the many other details in the handsomely stylized illustrations. (Picture book. 3-6)