The Ballad of Wilbur and the Moose

When Whiskers the cowboy is asked for a song by the campfire, he obliges with the ballad of Wilbur, ``the weirdest cowboy ever to hit the trail.'' Wilbur and Alvin--a blue moose and former boxer--head west to herd pigs. They round up their porcine charges from a cactus branch, a saloon, the gallows and the stockade of a no-good gambler. The proverbial bad guys attempt to steal back the pigs, but are defeated by a bath in lime juice (Wilbur's favorite drink), and a punch from Alvin. Stadler has won fans with his zany Animal Cafe and Hector , the Accordion-Nosed Dog . In this book he offers an appealing and clever hero who will draw readers in with his creative problem-solving. With a witty telling and illustrations to match, the book delivers a rollicking good time. Ages 3-7. (May)