MOUSE CHASE
by Vivian Sathre & illustrated by Ward Schumaker
A real cat-and-mouse chase that races along in quick-stepping action sentences: ``Whiskers twitch./Mouse runs./Cat chases.'' Mouse hops onto a leaf on a gusty day and rides it up and out of Cat's clutches. Landing on a river, Mouse escapes again and Cat misses a final swipe before ``Mouse sails./Cat wails.'' Sathre (J. B. Wigglebottom and the Parade of Pets, 1993, etc.) creates a lively miniadventure with a fanciful quality. Schumaker's first book for young readers harkens back to the simpler illustrative style of early children's books: the palette is limited to five clean, clear hues plus black. The look is refreshingly uncluttered. (Picture book. 2-5)