When Frazier's (Stanley Goes Fishing
) recurring hero, Stanley, and his snake friend, Hank, go to the big city in search of inspiration, it's readers who benefit the most from their discoveries. The artist's signature high-intensity graphics exert their usual force field on readers' attention: Frazier's sophisticated compositions combine style with kid appeal. Although the playfulness and whimsy of the visuals are subdued in comparison with previous books, the approach underscores the message of the text: the deceptiveness of the straightforward. Hank travels from one destination to the next, each time explaining that someone has sent him there for inspiration, and each time being sent someplace new. Hank finds his own bliss, but there's nothing predictable about the conclusion, a perfect union of art and text. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)
