Bob and Rob and Corn on the Cob

Newcomer McQueen's polished digital artwork gives his story some hipster cred as he pits two sneakers-wearing squirrels against a rabbit diva. The opening page shows an ear of corn on a checkered tablecloth; a squirrel in Buddy Holly glasses sniffs appreciatively: "This is Bob." A page turn introduces a squirrel in a party hat: "This is Rob. These two squirrels love corn on the cob." Several more animals and a robot show up ("Mama?" the robot keeps asking mechanically), and then Ella Mae Dobbs appears. She's "a bit of a snob," a white, long-eared bunny with perfectly applied lipstick, Jackie O. sunglasses, and an expression of withering scorn. Her eating habits don't make any sense to the squirrels: "Ella Mae Dobbs loves pan-seared tofu." The squirrels conspire: "I want to see Ella eat corn on the cob," says Bob to Rob. There's screenplay-style wit in the contrast between Ella Mae's hauteur and the squirrels' high school humor; with the help of the robot's innovative cooking, Ella Mae thaws out and laughs. A quiet protest against snooty foodies. Ages 3%E2%80%936. Agent: Anna Olswanger, Liza Dawson Associates. (May)