The Travels of Thelonious

In this first book in the Fog Mound series, a husband-and-wife team's novel/graphic novel hybrid smoothly alternates chapters between prose and comic book panels. Thelonious Chipmunk lives in the Untamed Forest in a shaky tree house; he has moved away from home because his family doesn't share his belief that human beings really existed at one time. High-tension, comic-style panels chronicle the fellow being literally swept off his feet during a rainstorm, into the City of Ruins—complete with abandoned subways, stores and homes. He befriends Fitzgerald, a Vespa-driving porcupine who makes his home in a deserted bookstore. Together they meet the Olive Bear, who has learned to operate an "ultra-light" helicopter, or "velocicopter" (solar panels offer a convenient explanation for the problem of energy sources throughout the tale). Antics ensue, culminating in the discovery of a frozen human ("Frozen scientist ," a sign reads, "Push red button to activate thawing process"), and the authors offer some savvy commentary on how members of any species should treat one another. The artwork's minimalist palette (black and blue) gives the story a quiet charm (even the prose sections contain an abundance of artwork), while a classy book design brings to mind Chris Ware, albeit more optimistic in theme. This tale creates a charming and compelling world, and ends with a whopper of a cliffhanger sure to bring readers back. Ages 8-12. (July)