THE PAPER PARTY

When Jory climbs through his TV screen, past the bright lights and the Flik Flax cereal boxes to join his favorite video puppets, the Dinky Donks, everything in their world—snow, a giant birthday cake, a pet dog they give him—turns out to be made of paper. Freeman doesn't try to turn this into a comment on the insubstantiality of TV fantasy, for Jory loves every minute of his romp and only returns when he feels lonesome for his own dog, Peetza. Despite the cheerful banality of Jory's reactions—and appearance, Freeman's purposely runny, slightly off-tone watercolors make the circus world of the Dinky Donks simultaneously whimsical and a little scary. Visually, the Dinky Donks lack some of the sureness and polish that impress adults, but they do invite participation and an unprogrammed response.