Truman's birthday present from Aunt Fran promises to be a much anticipated ant farm. 'But he didn't get ants. He got 'aunts'.' Hundreds of cheery, rosy-cheeked aunts arrive, ready to lavish their attention on their new nephew. When Truman runs out of room, he ingeniously shares the loving women with other children in need of aunts. In the end, Truman is left with his very own Aunt Fran. Sweet, playful illustrations accompany the original story.

PreS-Gr 2-It's a good pun, mistaking aunt'' forant,'' and one that tickles young ears. Aunt Fran sends Truman a coupon for an ant farm for his birthday, but when he tries to redeem it, he is sent more than 50 aunts instead- flattering aunts and funny aunts, aunts who bake and aunts who knit, gymnastic aunts and aunts who tickle-and they just keep coming. His first problem is what to feed them; his second, to find the right nieces and nephews for them. It's a major project, but he manages to make all the right matches and ends up with the one who has it all-Fran. This is a more playful book than Rattigan's Dumpling Soup (Little, 1993), and is served well by its art. Karas's amiable, pudgy cartoon characters have enlivened several beginning readers; his style is sharper here. Like the best cartoonists, he creates a multitude of expressions and stances with a minimum of line. The result is drawings that are both childlike and sophisticated. Using skewed proportion and perspective, he fills the pages with frantic activities that enhance and build upon the goofy appeal of the text.-Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library, IL

On the advice of clever Aunt Fran, Truman sends away for an ant farm. But he didn't get ants. He got aunts. At first, there are about 50 women of all varieties--and more arrive daily. They love him and make a fuss and exclaim how he's grown. He takes control and keeps them strong and happy with a strict training schedule that includes tickle practice, hug relay, stories, and listening. Then he gives them away, each one to a child who chooses just the right aunt to take home. The one joke wears a bit thin, but kids will laugh at the wordplay (Don't let those aunts bug you) and at the pet parody (Make mine lumpy and soft. A good cuddler). Karas' droll, full-color cartoon art captures the playful affection of a special relationship. (Reviewed Feb. 15, 1994)