TOO MUCH! NOT ENOUGH!

They could be Felix and Oscar of The Odd Couple, except Perry has made one into what looks like an animated peanut (named, appropriately, Peanut) and the other a tidy refrigerator with Jimmy Durante’s beezer.

Moe likes things on the controlled, neat side; Peanut likes things in constant motion. “Too much splashing” is met with “not enough puddles.” “Too much food” is countered with “Not enough syrup.” The two of them go back and forth, one unnerved by the gathering chaos, the other ready to test the limits of chaos theory. But it is rather fun. Moe may be a bit of a neatnik, but the pink-nosed, snaggle-toothed blue monster isn’t oppressive about it, and Peanut is never an in-your-face pest—actually Peanut’s always looking for the silver lining to turn Moe’s grumbles (though Moe rarely, rarely has a grumpy face) into joy: “Too much mess.” “Not enough bubbles!” That is what separates this book about differences—the mood is upbeat. Even when Moe blows a fuse and goes out into the night to study the stars (though it is raining) and get away from the mayhem, readers know common ground is not far away and that after Peanut has cleaned the place up—inquiring upon Moe’s return if it is “Too much” tidiness—all will be well.

Good spirits takes the solemnity out of differences.