The best way to encourage young readers is to keep them supplied with a steady stream of terrific books. Children's Book Week, just past, supports that idea, with the theme More Books, Please!

Chris Van Allsburg's delightful book "Probuditi!" fits the bill.

Van Allsburg works his magic with sepia-toned images bathed in a warm glow to tell the story of Calvin the birthday boy, who has two tickets to the magic show of "Lomax the Magnificent."

Calvin invites his pal Rodney instead of his little sister, Trudy, and they watch Lomax hypnotize a woman into believing she's a chicken.

Later, when Mom leaves Calvin in charge, he hypnotizes Trudy into thinking she's a dog, but he can't remember the magic word, probuditi, to undo it.

Readers will enjoy seeing Trudy drooling, chasing squirrels and lapping water, and how she gets the last laugh.