The Great Lollipop Caper

Kids know all too well that grownups like to eat disgusting things. Case in point: capers. Krall (Oh, Nuts!) gives this homely, briny seasoning a tortured inner life (readers may be reminded of Plankton from SpongeBob SquarePants), imagining that the adulation of adults, who prize his “acidic earthiness” is like ashes in Mr. Caper’s mouth. What he wants is what the unflaggingly good-natured Lollipop has: the adoration of children. A plot involving Mr. Caper’s sabotage of the world’s lollipop supply ensues (and, of course, goes horribly wrong), and Mr. Caper learns an important lesson about the rewards of being an acquired taste. “Sure, those kids love me now,” says Lollipop, “but when they grow up, guess who they’re going to be crazy about? You!” Krall’s background in animation (he’s worked on several Cartoon Network classics) once again serves him well: the pages fly by, fueled by precocious, melodramatic dialogue (“There must be a way to make the children appreciate my complex flavor!”) and cheerily frenetic drawings. It’s the perfect after-dinner read for Food Network–loving families. Ages 4–8. (May)