ROVER SAVES CHRISTMAS

Roddy Doyle, , illus. by Brian Ajhar. . Scholastic/Levine, $14.95 (160pp) ISBN 978-0-439-30530-3

The cast of The Giggler Treatment makes a return engagement for the holidays in this invitingly loopy escapade. Rudolph languishes with the flu and Santa appeals to canine Rover and his young owners to take over for the evening. Doyle addresses readers directly on numerous occasions, and if the fun feels a little frenetically self-conscious at times, it's still enormously entertaining. Ajhar's frisky drawings add to the mayhem. Ages 8-12. (Nov.)

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