THE BIG SQUIRREL AND THE LITTLE RHINOCEROS

Another heavy-handed European fable: tired of injuries carelessly inflicted by the larger animals, three small protesters wish for, and get, a size reversal. It doesn't work: the giant squirrel breaks branches and can't find enough acorns, the mouse doesn't fit in her burrow; meanwhile, the lion is reduced to eating grass, and the crocodile is afraid the fish will eat him. Agreeing to be kinder, all revert to their former sizes and ``have lived in peace and friendship ever since.'' A wistful thought—accompanied by de Beer's deftly drawn, amusing illustrations. (Picture book. 4-8)*justify no*