Love the Beastie: A Spin-and-Play Book

Paul and Judy used to do “naughty things” to their best friend, Beastie, who resembles a hairy green alligator. The evidence: a mini-booklet that briefly recaps scenes from the friends’ first outing, Pat the Beastie (1993). To teach them a lesson, Beastie swallows them and then spits them out—a pull-tab sends the two children careening out along Beastie’s slippery, red tongue. Now all is forgiven: Beastie, Paul, and Judy ride the carousel until they’re dizzy, brush Beastie’s “gunky” teeth, play dress up, and curl up together in bed (readers can tuck them in with a pink cloth blanket). With gentle gross-out humor, Drescher delivers an off-kilter reminder about being gentle with those we love. Agent: Red Fox Literary. Ages 3–up. (Dec.)