Napoleon: 9

Napoleon is a dog with a vivid imagination. On rainy days he heads up to the attic and, with a few props from his treasure box, enjoys hours of mischief: he robs trains, performs intricate scientific experiments and even conjures up the most unusual Christmas tree. The brief text describes each of Napoleon's actions yet creates a sense of mystery around his every endeavor. Often a sentence spans several pages, adding a layer of suspense (What will Napoleon do next? How will the sentence end?). In keeping with the simple text, the book's design is clean and unfettered, primarily white with Napoleon's antics depicted in a splash of color. Napoleon himself has the look of a flour sack--dapper and neatly defined, but a flour sack all the same. An unusual and arresting debut. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)