Two less-than-cuddly-looking creatures take center stage in Dyer's (Five Little Fiends
) quirky tale of childhood imagination and sibling love. To Mungo, his older sister knows all, so he peppers her with questions typical preschoolers. "Clementine,... how do cats stay cool in the summer?" he asks, and she replies that they take their coats off. The accompanying picture shows how Mungo envisions her answer: a stylized black cat stands bare near his unzipped fur suit. In reply to the fellow's question about why some leaves are green and others are red, Clementine says that "tiny painting pig-ments go around and paint all the leaves from green to red." Dyer creates childlike renderings of cut-paper trees, aesthetically colored in greens and pinks as applied by a pair of pigs. The story then diverges from this initial play-on-words format—though Clementine still supplies her novice explanations (e.g., if Mungo digs in the garden, Clementine tells him he'll find the center of the earth). Dyer's illustrations convey both a sophisticated and naïve quality, much like Clementine's answers. Mostly white backdrops allow readers to focus on humorous details (in the opening spread, Clementine stands on a book to make herself appear taller than Mungo). With their wide-set round eyes and porcine ears, these two monster-like beings continue their Q&A until bedtime. Clementine bathes and tucks in her brother, and her closing question to him—and his reply—emphasizes the loving reciprocity of a sibling bond. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
