UNCLE FEDYA, HIS DOG, AND HIS CAT

In this Russian tale of separation and reunion, ``Uncle Fedya''—a boy ``who could read by the time he was four and make soup by the time he was six''—sets up housekeeping. Willfully deserting his parents' city apartment, he moves in with a talking cat and dog, a tractor that runs on soup, and a portable plug-in sun, while also attracting still more quirky animals and a recalcitrant postal carrier to his doorstep in rural Milkville. Meanwhile, his frantic parents follow every lead in their quest to find their missing boy. B&w illustrations in an old-fashioned European style provide frequent breaks throughout. Loaded with cockeyed problems, absurd solutions, and a deliciously deadpan delivery, a lively read-aloud for those considering fleeing family and home. (Folklore/Fiction. 5-9)