In this soporific tale, Cosentino (whose artwork readers may recognize from several lines of clothing at Target) melds inoffensive Dick and Jane
–style bare-bones narration with a weird-but-cute Japanese toy aesthetic. "There once was a pillow head/ who snored his name: Honk-Honk-Ashoo." He portrays the hero with an overstuffed marshmallow of a head, blue-striped ticking and a stick-figure body. The fellow's inanimate accessories—an alarm clock, nightlight, bunny slippers and red wagon (named Squeak)—share his blissful smiley-face expression, until a dog's barking interrupts their placid sleepytime routine. Honk-Honk-Ashoo leaps out of bed and helps a scowling gray cat in a dogcatcher's uniform to apprehend a stray puppy. But as the dogcatcher drives away, "Honk-Honk-Ashoo thought the little dog looked sad." A tiny teardrop forms on his pillowcase, and he races to adopt the puppy. That night, the new friends tuck in "nice and early," with Swella-Bow-Wow curled up on Honk-Honk-Ashoo's fluffy forehead. Cosentino uses digital media to render the characters in smooth geometric shapes. His graceful black outlines, cool pastel hues and curvy shapes soften any threat of the dog pound; the sweet-tempered Swella-Bow-Wow, all circles and ovals, might be Hello Kitty's neighbor. This gentle story proves unmemorable but Cosentino demonstrates a knack for minimalist design, with characters reminiscent of Dan Yaccarino's or William Joyce's creations. Ages 3-up. (Feb.)
