MORRIS BROOKSIDE IS MISSING

The lovable hero of Morris Brookside, a Dog (KR, 1973) has really settled in by now, and his status as a member of the family is never more evident than when he runs away -- presumably hurt when an aching Mr. Brookside not only borrows Morris' blanket but also pushes the dog off his lap when he tries to share it. When the Brooksides report ""someone missing"" it takes the very patient policewoman who hurries over a while to realize that Morris is, as Mrs. B. puts it, both a person and a dog. Of course Morris' friend Princess knows all along that Morris is in the cellar, and when old Hannah and Humphrey B. give up biking and calling about town and follow her instead, there's a happy reunion with kisses all round. Morris is all dog here and his problem is not one with which children identify as in his first adventure, but young pet owners are likely to share (more readily than most adults) the Brooksides' feelings of doting kinship with Morris.