ELEPHANT JOE, BRAVE KNIGHT!

Wee elephant and zebra buddies seem no match for a fearsome dragon and an evil knight, but looks can be deceiving.

It's a sunny day at the castle, so Elephant Joe and his pal Zebra Pete go for a dip in the moat astride colorful inflatable animals. A loud cry for help sends them running to the castle. It's the king—a pint-sized purple hippo—whose crown has been stolen by the Dark Knight. Joe and Pete set off immediately and soon arrive at the Enchanted Forest, whose trees are full of candy and cupcakes. At the Dark Knight's castle, they find a crocodile damsel in distress, but before they can rescue her, they're attacked by an enormous red dragon. With cool heads, the duo subdues the beast with a tickle and a sincere "Please." In no time, they're inside the castle, where the tables are turned and the Dark Knight (who has devilishly impersonated said damsel) escapes after imprisoning them. Luckily, the dragon has a spare key, and wings! He flies his new friends quickly to the castle, where they recover the crown. Both Joe and Pete are knighted and feted with a feast. Wojtowycz's digital-collage illustrations are a riot of bold colors and interesting shapes. A frog who looks like a green candy kiss offers snarky asides throughout.

Blithe adventure for tiny heroes-to be.