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SEASHORE STORY by Taro Yashima (Viking; $4.95). An ancient Japanese tale of a fisherman who went away to the bottom of the sea on the back of a turtle and stayed so long that no one remembered him when he returned. Illustrated by the author with beguiling watery pictures.
ISSUN BOSHI, THE INCHLING by Momoko Ishii, illustrated by Fuku Akino (Walker; $3.50). Another old Japanese fable, handsomely illustrated. The hero is no bigger than a man's thumb and is resigned to life as a paperweight for a beautiful princess. But then he slays a dreadful demon, and guess what his reward is? A wish on a magic mallet transforms him into a full-size man and he marries the princess to live happily ever after.
THE MOON PONY by Charlotte Pomerantz, illustrated by Loretta Trezzo (Young Scott Books; $3.95). One of the best of an increasing number of picture books that depart from the usual white, middle-class background. This one is about a Negro child's dream of a ride to the moon on a white pony. It preserves the delicate balance between the real world and the imaginary.
THE HONEYBEES by Franklin Russell, illustrated by Colette Portal (Knopf; $3.95). A factual account of the twelve-month cycle of a honeybee colony. The best of the nonfiction, well told and with excellent illustrations.
BIRDS by Brian Wildsmith (Watts; $4.95). In what is probably the best-illustrated of the year's picture books, Artist Wildsmith offers a series of 14 wonderful paintings of owls, pheasants, herons and other feathered creatures. There is no text, but youngsters and their parents are sure to be intrigued by his picture captions: a "congregation of plover," a "wedge of swans," a "stare of owls."
IF I HAD A LION by Liesel Moak Skorpen, illustrated by Ursula Landshoff (Harper & Row; $2.50). A little girl muses: "I'd invite my lion to share my bed," and eat and play, and go on picnics and "we would be the best of friends ... if I had a lion."
WHEN I HAVE A SON by Charlotte Zolotow, illustrated by Hilary Knight (Harper & Row; $1.95). This small book, highly reminiscent of Mr. Knight's best-known Eloise, will be fun for both child and parent. "My son," says John, speaking for all young boys, "won't have to take piano. He'll never have to go to sleep till he finishes the chapter, and he can have triple malteds just before dinner."
ZERALDA'S OGRE by Tomi Ungerer (Harper & Row; $3.95). This lonely ogre has sharp teeth, a big nose, a bad temper and he sometimes eats little children for breakfast that is, until he meets Zeralda, who is such a good cook that he swiftly switches to pompano, roast chicken and other goodies. Though it may sound scary to adults, it is the kind of story that is invariably amusing to children and the youngsters will love the menacing drawings. Also recommended: Ungerer's Moon Man, a story of the man in the moon's brief visit to earth ($4.50).
MARY ANN'S MUD DAY by Janice May Udry, illustrated by Martha Alexander (Harper & Row; $2.50). This little girl does everything with mud from making simple mud balls to mud mountains and an entire mud village with mud people. She even tries to sell mud. She spends an entire glorious day working with the gunk.