From Publishers Weekly Schroeder"s (The Wonderful Adventures of Baron M?nchhausen) ethereal pastels offer a surreal quality to this visually engrossing encounter between a curious girl and Humpty Dumpty. The pair first meet when Laura slips away from the illusory tree house she shares with her aunt to investigate something 'shimmer[ing] mysteriously,' and stumbles upon Humpty asleep in a nest among sparse trees at dusk. Over several spreads, as Humpty flees from her in fear, the background changes to jet-black night until Laura rescues him from a weakened tree limb, and light once again infuses the scene. Next, text and artwork convey a mood of whimsy as Humpty, Laura and Bobo (Laura"s teddy bear) slide down giant tulip leavesA'cloud dancing, water falling, tree throwing, rock wobbling... until they [were] quite out of breath.' As night falls, a storm threatens, and the eerie rose color of the sky conveys Humpty"s anxiety, this time due to the 'thundersmasher birds.... Eggs are what they most like to eat.' Not until the three, together, face fear full on in the darkened woods with the storm raging and the birds looming do the skies clear, and Humpty discovers his true identity. Schroeder"s use of light-colored pastels in rosy pinks and robin"s egg blue against inky dark backgrounds effectively keeps the reader trapped in the dreamlike setting. She plants the suggestion that the tale may be a dream inspired by the book Laura is reading at the outset (above her, nestled in the hollow of a tree, is an egg). Although this may be unsettling to some readers, the images here are hauntingly alive. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library Journal Kindergarten-Grade 2-In this fanciful but ultimately unsuccessful story, Laura ventures out before sunrise with her teddy bear, Bobo, and encounters the real Humpty Dumpty. Initially fearful, Humpty decides to make friends. 'And they played/cloud dancing/water falling/tree throwing/rock wobbling/beetle waking/snail teasing/flower ruffling/leaf sliding/until they/were quite/out of breath.' Then, evening comes and the dreadful, hungry thundersmasher birds come out looking for their favorite food-eggs. The child leaves her teddy bear to comfort her frightened friend, and goes home to bed. The stormy night is powerfully depicted in two double-page spreads of looming birds and terrified forest faces. Concerned about Humpty, Laura gets up and goes to find him in the woods, and the two sleep till morning. But when the child awakens, he is gone and eggshells are all that remain. As she weeps for her friend, a large bird appears inviting her to play 'again.' Has Humpty hatched? The only clue is that the bird wears his shoes and, in the endpapers, his hat. Crayon drawings on dark paper present the whimsical landscape and its inhabitants in a dramatic fashion, but the scary setting and unresolved ending make this of questionable appeal to young children. Unfortunate placement of text against the dark background makes some words difficult to read, as well. Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.