Cozy in Love

Brett returns to the world of Cozy for this tale about the woolly musk ox character finding love in the Arctic tundra. Despite his best head-bashing effort, Cozy is bested by another musk ox bull and fails to win the attention of “lovely Lofti,” a musk ox cow with “a sparkle in her eye that set her apart.” But before Cozy can feel too sorry for himself, Puffin corrals him for an urgent mission: to help their beluga friend Bella escape Teardrop Inlet before it completely freezes over as winter fast approaches. Cozy uses his head—literally—and some “simple science” to raise the water level so Bella can swim away, all while Lofti admiringly looks on. Embracing her signature style, Brett frames each watercolor and gouache image with a rustic border. Side panels of spot art on each page work to foreshadow plot elements and introduce details of the expansive Alaskan setting—accurately drawn puffins, seaweed, starfish, and, fittingly, heart-shaped stones. Ages 4–8. (Nov.)