BORIS AND THE WRONG SHADOW

Feline Boris awakens from one of the catnaps he pursued in Boris and the Snoozebox (2008) to discover he’s got the wrong shadow. A mystified Boris casts the shadow of a wee mouse, causing his cat cronies to snicker and birds to ignore him. After checking out his reflection to make sure he’s still 100 percent cat, Boris realizes Vernon the mouse is sporting his shadow. Vernon confesses he swapped shadows when Boris was snoozing because Boris’ shadow makes him feel “BIG and IMPORTANT.” Saddled with Vernon’s tiny shadow, Boris understands exactly how Vernon feels, but he still wants his own shadow back. Using teamwork the unlikely duo switch back, but not before some serious bonding between cat and mouse. Relying on varying font sizes and typefaces to emphasize words, the witty text is cleverly incorporated into enormously creative mixed-media collages combining simple lines, bold patterns and bright colors in a visual cacophony that actively propels readers from page to page as Boris and Vernon pursue and untangle their shadows. Droll drama amid eye-catching artwork. (Picture book. 3-7)