COME BACK, PIGEON!

Grade 2-3-City children Flora and Barnaby are astounded by the swallows and pigeons they see in their new country home. They make friends with Gabriel, the man next door, who raises pigeons. When Barnaby's newly purchased pigeon flies off, Gabriel offers them a job helping out with his birds. A smooth translation from the original German and full-page color illustrations make an attractive volume, but do not compensate for a slight story unlikely to resonate with either city or suburban readers. Not a necessary purchase.