Dickens' London in little, with Tommy Grimes' mother admonishing him not to go out of the street or Mr. Miacca will get him, and Mr. Miacca approaching around the corner; wizened Mr. Miacca himself, clapping Tommy into his bag, taking him home for supper (""You're rather tough...but you'll not taste bad boiled""); jolly, plump Mrs. Miacca, beguiled by the promise of pudding instead; Tommy, scampering off, caught again (""he couldn't always be good""), and the final fillip--a Victorian sofa leg chopped off by near-sighted Mr. Miacca instead of Tommy's own. All this deliberately designed and richly detailed for long, close looking--a crisp, comical story extended but not overwhelmed by the vibrant illustrations of the current Caldecott winner.