Leaving no tuffet unturned, the Hawkins incorporate dozens of folktale and nursery-rhyme characters into a multi-stranded romp, in the course of which newsboy Jack (Hubbard, scion of Old Mother), making his deliveries, passes a trio of Bears out for a stroll and a certain Wolf, then later trades the family cow for a magic bean and turns a giant into a devoted newspaper reader. Children will become newspaper readers too, as there is a full-sized issue of The Fairytale News (“IS B.B. WOLF TELLING PORKIES ABOUT THE THREE LITTLE PIGS? See page 2”) folded into a pocket at the back. Plainly having way too much fun, the Hawkins joggle all the endings into happy ones (even Humpty Dumpty is reported to be making a “cracking recovery”), and festoon the tale with pop-eyed, easily identifiable cartoon figures. Readers who enjoyed making rounds with The Jolly Postman (1986) will happily trail along after young Jack. (Picture book/fractured folktale. 7-9)
