Tom Foolery

The proverbial feline curiosity proves to be the Achilles heel of a plucky striped cat in this tale of nautical misadventure. Tom Foolery, a boat-dweller, falls overboard one night while his owners are asleep: ``He meowed and meowed, but his calls were lost in the wind.'' The stalwart puss paddles for dear life to a nearby island--home of gulls, pelicans and a lady with a rambunctious dog. Tom's worried owners eventually find their pet, and a merry reunion is enjoyed by all. Debut author Parkinson's descriptions of Tom's behavior--from his shipboard antics to his gradual befriending of the island's human inhabitant--reveal a keen awareness of feline psychology. Bobak's ( Burton and the Giggle Machine ) loose, naturalistically colored drawings meander in and around the text in an agreeable design suiting this peripatetic yarn. These sketches blend well with the credible text (probably more than coincidence that Parkinson's story harks to his own boating experience with cat in tow), helping youngsters to appreciate Tom Foolery's tale and, in some cases perhaps, to imagine their own relief at recovering a lost pet. Ages 4-7. (Mar.)