Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! An Alphabet Caper

The turbulent relationship between a yellow dog and a gray mouse unfolds through a snappy alphabetical series of words and phrases. As story opens, the mouse is “Asleep” in his den when the dog’s “Ball” lands in its lap (“Catch”). Twohy (Wake Up, Rupert!) creates lively action sequences in pen-and-ink illustrations that reveal the animals’ path of destruction as they give chase: the mouse careens toward a coffeepot (“Kitchen”), while the dog knocks over a lamp while rounding a corner (“Living room”). The whirlwind chase reads like a Sylvester and Tweety Bird episode, but terror turns to tenderness as the mouse returns the ball as a gift (“To dog” reads the tag), and the two fall asleep in a heap as buddies (“Zzzzz”). To-the-point text and clear situational comedy create a graspable, gratifying read. Ages 4–8. [em]Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (Feb.) [/em]