Ike, that cute, crafty canine, is back in his fourth adventure. A planned cruise trip with his owner, Mrs. LaRue, is foiled when a neighbor lands in the hospital, stranding her two cats. Cruise ship becomes road trip across the country with the two cats creating a cat-as-trophy at each new juncture. Ike’s postcards to the neighbor become increasingly desperate. From Pea Gravel, S.D., he writes: “The local postmaster claims it would be illegal for me to send live cats through the mail.” Crossing the prairie, Ike is in the back seat of the car holding two signs: “Bad Cats! S.O.S.” When Mrs. LaRue’s car conks out in the desert, a First Mate on a cruise ship rescues them. Cleverly designed, the comic illustrations spare no whisker for laugh-out-loud humor, especially the feline facial expressions—sticking out their tongues, shooting slingshots. As in previous outings, Teague plays black-and-white scenes (dogs are colorblind, don't you know) against full-color acrylics to great effect. The endpapers are a map of the United States with their (incredibly illogical) route marked. This furry fiasco is fabulous fun. No pussyfooting here, just the cat’s meow of a doggie’s tale of woe. Bone Voyage. (Picture book. 4-9)
