LEON AND THE SPITTING IMAGE

Another entry in the current fad of kids' books involving bodily functions features--you guessed it--spit. Fourth- grader Leon's problems with dexterity threaten to hold him back for another year with "The Hag." But it could just be that he's found the motivation he needs for improvement: His sewing project, when properly dabbed in drool, can really work magic on his problems with everything from teachers to bullies. With vocal versatility and a lighthearted tone, Mark Linn-Baker conjures up just the right personality for every character--from tyrant Lumpkin the Pumpkin to Leon's hard-working, yet always upbeat, single mom. The full fleshing out of the characters makes this enjoyable, and Mark Linn-Baker delivers it with just a hint of a laugh, gleaning all the humor from this charming story. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 04]