CYCLOPS OF CENTRAL PARK

Cyclops always opts for the safety of his cave in Central Park, but Eugene has other ideas.

Cyclops lovingly cares for his sheep, always warning them of the dangers all around, such as the “twirly” carousel and the “sharp” grass right there in their own park. When Cyclops counts his sheep one morning, Eugene is missing. He is not in the park, and that means Cyclops must venture into the even scarier city. He searches all over New York to no avail, then brings in his flock of sheep to help. They head for the subway and Coney Island, where they find their elusive friend riding the Cyclone roller coaster and having a wonderful time. He convinces Cyclops and the sheep to try it, and after a shaky start, Cyclops is ready for more adventures. In both premise and detail, Rosenberg employs a sly sense of the absurd. Cyclops strikes out in the Yankee dugout and mistakes a de Kooning for a sighting of Eugene at the Guggenheim. Tentler-Krylov’s wildly creative illustrations are fantastical renderings of New York City as it exists in a kind of alternate reality. The Statue of Liberty is right where she should be, but she is depicted leaning over, amazed at the sight of Cyclops. Even if they miss some of the gags, young readers will see Cyclops’ loving nature and cheer his new bravery.

Delightful, witty, and not just for New Yorkers.