CATNIP MOUSE

Disaster ensues when a self-sufficient introvert confronts an exuberant pal.

Vera, a plum-shaped pale blue cat, happily plays alone with blocks, a book, and a beloved catnip mouse. But trouble’s looming. Gipp the dog barges into Vera’s space, flourishing a magic wand and inadvertently destroying Vera’s toy. Vera’s distraught, but Gipp promises to bring back the catnip mouse with the power of magic. The pooch’s desperate spells produce a “ketchup joust,” a “cattle blouse,” a “fat-lipped grouse,” a “massive louse,” and a random, unidentified object that appears to be a fishing bobber, but not the longed-for mouse. Gipp apologizes, but even with Vera’s patient coaching (“catnip mouse, catnip mouse!”), comes up with more ridiculous, far-fetched phrases further and further from the rhyme. Understandably, Vera finally gives way to rage and breaks the wand. Gloom grips Gipp, but after a heart-to-heart (“I just wanted to play with you,” “I like playing with you, too. But I was already doing my own thing”), the two make amends, turn a new stick into a wand, and together generate more nonsense phrases. Youngsters whose favorite toys have been demolished may not be as quick to forgive as Vera. Still, the over-the-top rhymes will provoke giggles galore. Cartoon-style illustrations in blue and brownish-orange will help developing readers through brief text with some unusual typefaces.

Goofy adventures in wordplay and conflict resolution.