Mice, a rottweiler, an arachnid and a few other assortedcritters make sturdy reappearances in five board book versions ofpicture books. In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint, "three whitemice on a white piece of paper" enjoy a colorful romp, while inWalsh's Mouse Count a similar gaggle narrowly escapes being servedfor dinner (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6 each, 28p, ages 1-3 ISBN0-15-200265-0; -200266-9 Sept.). Yet another mouse searches theanimal kingdom for companionship?and finds an unexpectedrespondent?in Eric Carle's Do You Want to Be My Friend?(HarperFestival, $6.95, 32p, ages 2-6, ISBN 0-694-00709-9 Sept.).The rewards of industriousness are celebrated in a second Carletitle, The Very Busy Spider; its embossed web brings a tactiledimension to his familiar collage artwork (Philomel, $9.95, 26p,ages 2-up ISBN 0-399-22919-1 Aug.). Finally, the canine in questionis Alexandra Day's beloved Carl, who takes charge of a crew oftoddlers in Carl Goes to Day Care (Farrar, Straus & Giroux,$5.95, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-374-31145-5 Sept.).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refersto the Board book edition.

Every young child should be introduced to this story, as greata classic as its predecessor, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Thiscolorful picture book describes a spider's day. Blown onto afarmyard fence, she starts to spin a web. The other animals ask ifshe wants to play, but in every case "the spider didn't answer. Shewas very busy spinning her web." The book is touchable: elementsincluding the strands of web are embossed on the pages and you canfollow them with your fingertips. But the best thing by far isCarle's familiar, yet still breathtaking skill as an illustrator.Especially in this large 11.5-by-8.5-inch format, his cow, goat,and dog (just to mention three favorites) capture the essence ofeach animal in a way few artists can hope to approach. (Baby topreschool) --Richard Farr --This text refers to an alternateHardcover edition.