Little Elliot, Fall Friends

In this charming fourth outing for Curato’s polka-dotted elephant Little Elliot and his friend Mouse, the companions take a needed break from the noise and chaos of their 1940s-esque Manhattan, hopping a bus for the countryside. After arriving at an idyllic farm, the two eat apples, soak up the autumn colors, and play hide-and-seek. Elliot’s hiding place in the cornfield is a little too effective, but Mouse’s ingenuity and pie-making skills reunite the friends—and result in a “fall feast” with some new barnyard pals. Curato’s lush illustrations revel in the calm of rural expanses (“The country is even bigger than the city!” Elliot exclaims), creating a sense of palpable relief as the friends relax. Never underestimate the power of a getaway to rejuvenate one’s spirits and friendships. Ages 4–8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. (Aug.)