The Zillionaire's Daughter — Edward Sorel

Lovely Claire is a girl with pedigree and pocketbook to match those of Eloise. Her famous father, French zillionaire Max Maximillion, made his fortune ``buying for less and selling for more.'' As the pair sail to New York aboard the S.S. Gigantic to attend the 1939 World's Fair, Countess von Zeller reads Claire's palm and foresees that she is to marry a saxophone player. Outraged, Max worries about the bizarre prediction until fate steps in and reveals a possible outcome: Claire's newfound friend Charlie plays a mean sax, and is also the third Duke of Harley. Brimming with gorgeous Art Deco touches, Sorel's resplendent pen and ink, color-enhanced drawings are perfectly matched by his effortless verse. His beguiling, tongue-in-cheek tale sparkles with urbane wit; it is polished down to the last kid shoe. Ages 4-8. ( Mar. )