Lily Boop

In one of the strangest books to come along in a while, Judy meets a new girl in town named Lily Boop. Lily, who is some kind of burrowing animal, surprises the very human Judy with habits that include sharpening her teeth with a file, sucking the raw egg out of cracked shells and owning a pet slug. Even Judy, open-minded as she is, gets nauseated by the thought of the slug growing, the same way puppies become full-grown dogs. However, she loves her friend, and when Lily decides to move back North, where everyone is just like her, she invites Judy along. Judy has to think hard before deciding that being different from everyone else would be hard, and that Lily is brave to have lasted so long with the humans. The lesson is subtly woven into the story: Lily's habits are odd, but no obstacle to friendship. This book will either tickle a very hip reader's funny bone or cause some puzzlement. Hoban's woodcut-like illustrations size up the situation suitably. (4-8)