BURNT TOAST ON DAVENPORT STREET

Stella and Arthur, a couple of dogs, live on Davenport Street. Theirs is a humble existence: They eat—Arthur burns the toast every morning—go for walks, sleep. ``It was a nice life. Not perfect, but nice.'' The flaw is that a gang of unruly crocodiles taunt them on their morning walk, e.g., ``Hey, lady, what did your husband give you for your birthday, a flea collar?'' A fly in the kitchen, begging Arthur not to swat it, is the bearer of three wishes. Arthur, incredulous, humors the insect and the wishes come true, sort of. Egan (Metropolitan Cow, 1996, etc.) casts ordinary Joes into dreamlike, absurdist situations—with a hint of menace—that are quelled by a good dose of common sense and plain speaking. Home is where the burnt toast is in this original and zany offering. (Picture book. 4-8)