My Pillow Keeps Moving

A guy walks into a pillow store, and from there, Gehl and Weyant's story becomes increasingly silly and delightful. The gentleman--a mustachioed, bespectacled, mild-mannered fellow who lives alone--believes he is making three perfectly normal purchases: a pillow, a footstool, and a jacket. In each case, readers can see that the purchase is actually a clever stray dog looking for a warm home. When the man's purchases start acting strangely (the pillow moves, the footstool howls, the jacket burps and farts), he tries to return them to an unctuous, unyielding salesman, who insists that the items meet all the necessary criteria ("Is your pillow fluffy?" he asks. "Then your pillow is not broken, sir"). The all-dialogue text and classic New Yorker-style cartooning (Weyant is a regular contributor to the magazine) prove how powerfully funny repetition can be. Adult readers may be reminded of Monty Python's "Dead Parrot" sketch, although in this case, the critter is very much alive and everyone comes away happy. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Erzsi Deak, Hen & Ink. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Jan.)

PreS-Gr 2--Shivering outside The Pillow Place storefront, a dog hatches a plan to find a home. Snuggling among the cushions, the resourceful little dog is purchased and goes home with a customer. Although the pup has all the qualities of a soft and fluffy pillow, she's returned to the store; the man complains that the pillow keeps moving. At the Furniture Barn, the same customer buys a footstool--it's the jaunty pooch again. The footstool is returned, this time, for being too noisy. Readers will root for the dog, anticipating what object the animal will impersonate next to win the man's heart. The final act where a cat works its way into the new family is a delight. Reminiscent of Arthur Howard's Hoodwinked, Gehl's charming story leaves the audience wondering when the lonely man will catch on to the companionship the animals can offer. Weyant's cartoon images, with labels and captions, replace a narrative text. Humorous and lively, the cartoons keep readers in on the joke, but can occasionally feel adult in look and sensibility. VERDICT A sublimely silly tale for pet lovers, suitable for storytimes and one-on-one sharing.--Sarah Webb, City and Country School Library, NY