Hobbie's porcine characters (Toot and Puddle, 1997) are back in a sweet but disjointed effort. Toot's birthday is coming up, and Puddle doesn't know what to get him_nothing is special enough for his extraordinary friend. After combing several stores, he finds a unique present waiting in the pet shop: Tulip, a chatty, but expensive parrot who needs a home. After taking Tulip home, Puddle learns that Toot finds parrots loud and squawking. Puddle doesn't want to abandon Tulip; he's also worried that the parrot may not like their neighborhood. He surprises Toot with the pet anyway, and to his relief, Toot loves his present. The storyline has too many gaps, but Hobbie's watercolors are delightful, and Puddle's search for the perfect present is endearing. (Picture book. 3-6)
