Okay, Andy!

From the Max and Pinky books to Two Dumb Ducks, Eaton loves a comic duo, and he’s got a great one in a wildly excitable coyote named Preston and his beleaguered alligator friend Andy. In this graphic novel–style chapter book, which helps launch the Jump Into Chapters line, Preston thwarts and annoys Andy at every turn. The first chapter finds Andy stalking a rabbit, only to have Preston scare it off. “What are we doing?” Preston asks, peering through foliage. “We are doing nothing,” replies Andy. “But it seems like we are doing something,” persists Preston as the rabbit peers down at them from a tree. Eaton’s chunky drawing style, clean backgrounds, and simple speech-balloon dialogue keep the panels uncluttered and the action easy to follow. In the second chapter, Preston’s constant question, “Okay?” eventually drives Andy off a small cliff; in the third, Preston tries to make Andy guess what animal sound he’s making (“A rock.” “No.” “A shoe.” “No”). Whether readers are the “Preston” or “Andy” in their own friendships, they’ll find this duo’s interactions irresistible. Ages 5–8. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Feb.)