Ah, the price of fame. Repeatedly stymied in his efforts to take a nap by a trio of giggling groupies, the overcaffeinated ninja-turned-circus acrobat who achieved his dream in Wink, the Ninja Who Wanted To Be Noticed (2009) at last enlists similarly black-swathed classmates from the Summer Moon School for Young Ninjas to lead his stalkers off in merry chases for an hour or two. Also returning for this sequel are Wink’s wise grandma and frazzled-but-savvy sensei (“One zebra alone is easily seen. A herd creates confusion,” he intones. “Why can’t Master Zutsu say anything normal? Wink thought. Then he got an idea”). Bright patterns and heavy textures give the paper-collage illustrations a 3D look; borders contain inset illustrations, while full-bleed spreads allow readers to pull back for more expansive views. Phillipps cranks up the visual energy by strewing her brightly lit street scenes with laughing figures, arms and legs flung out joyfully. Like its predecessor, definitely not a snoozer. (Picture book. 5-7)
