Ruby, Blue and Blanket

In the tradition of Hissey's Old Bear books, this story features cuddly, plush toy characters, drawn in cozy, realistic detail. Ruby, a mouse, plays dress-up with a rabbit named Blue and a spotted pony, Blanket. Though her pals settle on costumes in a flash%E2%80%94princess garb for Blue and a unicorn horn for Blanket%E2%80%94Ruby can't decide what "disguise" to choose. Her imagination catapults her through a host of options, including pirate, fairy, ghost, mermaid, and spaceman. Hissey's description of Ruby's stint as a witch exemplifies the verse's playful blend of whimsy and nonsense: "Now Ruby decided a witch would work well,/ With a hat and a broomstick she made up a spell,/ And in through the window flew billions of bats/ And saucers of milk for some very small cats." Although the illustrations portraying Ruby's flights of fancy have thematic backdrops, the toys are generally set against white backgrounds, reinforcing their three-dimensional look. Blanket eventually comes to Ruby's rescue, suggesting that they mix-and-match costumes to solve her indecisiveness. An inviting tale of friendship, innovation, and cooperation. Ages 3%E2%80%93up. (Sept.)