The Boy Who Cried Ninja

Latimer, a South African artist making his children's book debut, turns in an amusing twist on The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Tim isn't lying: a ninja really does sneak into his house and eat the last slice of cake—kicking it into the air first, as ninjas do. An astronaut in need of a hammer really does take one from Tim's father's workshop, and a giant squid really does eat Tim's book bag. But Tim discovers that, due to the preposterous nature of the truth, he's punished by his parents whether he tells the truth or not. At last he succeeds in luring the creatures out into the open where his family can see them, with triumphant results: "They said sorry and promised to buy him a hundred ice creams." Latimer's understated line drawings add to the fun; his creatures have pin-dot eyes and blank expressions that belie the havoc they're wreaking. The time-traveling monkey in underpants who appears on the television and starts throwing pencils at Grampa might be the best moment. Older siblings may sneak in while this one is being read aloud. Ages 4–8. (Apr.)