Following the Sun - Hardcover

Stow, in counting-book form, depicts a notably peaceable kingdom, African animals in a gathering parade that follows the sun's course through the day. A beetle starts the proceedings: ``Here is beetle following the sun. Out leaps frog''--will it eat the beetle?--``Now there are 2.'' Along comes a crawling lizard, a slithering snake, a strolling hyena, a lumbering elephant, among others, until the assembly reaches ten and they stand shoulder to shoulder, predator and prey, to watch the sunset. In what looks as if cut-paper shapes have been pasted on brilliant backgrounds of color, Stow (The House that Jack Built, 1992, etc.) creates lovely scenes of the savannah, with acacia trees, termite mounds, and grassy sweeps. Furthering the appeal of the book is the personality demonstrated in the postures and expressions of the animals. (Picture book. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.