The Epic Adventures of Huggie & Stick

Following their tumble from Reese's backpack, Huggie, a worn and curmudgeonly stuffed rabbit, and Stick, an optimistic branch, embark on a weeklong adventure that spans all seven continents. Diary entries written by each traveler tell the story, and their wildly different personalities become clear. Stick is perpetually positive, seeing the best in every situation: while hitching a ride with a kangaroo ("a giant mouse with a POCKET on her tummy") in Australia, Stick breaks his companion's fall when he slips out of the pocket, writing "Thank goodness I was there or he could have been hurt!" Huggie's entry, written on a bandage wrapper, isn't quite so rosy: "Dear Diary, There's a stick up my butt." Debuting illustrator Spencer's cartoonish illustrations pair well with Daywalt's text of two travelers, heightening the characters' incongruity through facial expressions and body language (while walking the plank, Stick smiles wide, tucking into cannonball position as he jumps, while Huggie fiercely glares back at the pirates). Beyond the silly, the book promotes neither perspective as "right"--whether grumpy or gleeful, both characters' ways are valid. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator's agent: John Cusick, Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management. (Oct.)

K-Gr 2--Huggie, a blue stuffed rabbit, and the appropriately named Stick spend most of their time in Reese's backpack. But an unfortunate circumstance sends them both tumbling out of the satchel and into the ocean. Now the pair must travel across all of the continents to get back to their owner. Much like Daywalt's wildly popular The Day the Crayons Quit, this story is told through a series of letters or journal entries, with Stick giving an overly optimistic view of their day's adventure, followed by Huggie's less glowing take on what really happened. For example, on their stop in Africa, Stick comments on how much fun it was to be in a race, and how nice it was for a giant fish to offer them a ride in its mouth. Huggie clarifies on the following page that they were chased by a rhino, they jumped into the ocean to escape, and then were swallowed by a shark. This pattern is followed throughout, which may make it feel repetitive, though it is hilarious to see what new calamites have befallen the two. Spencer's illustrations are sharp and polished, while his cartoon-heavy character design keeps the tone comedic. VERDICT A strong addition.--Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI