Phooey!
Kindergarten-Grade 4&mdash;When he kicks an empty can of cat food from a lawn, a boy who repeats, "Nothing ever happens around here" triggers a chain reaction of mishaps that ultimately changes his mind about his neighborhood. The can hits a sleeping cat, who is chased by a dog through a town populated by pirates, a policeman, a zookeeper, cowboys, and a woman with a funny hat. The bored boy remains oblivious to the havoc that continues when an elephant, frightened by the chase, breaks free from the zoo. It sets loose a rolling barrel of kippered herring that hits a ladder and spills a painter's bucket, causing the baker's tray full of pies to go flying. The antics continue through the town, until the elephant halts abruptly to enjoy a lost bag of peanuts, sending the cat spiraling through the air and into the boy's arms. "This place is great!," the boy exclaims as the cuddly cat purrs next to his smiling face. Color cartoon drawings show the humorous progression of the chaotic events in a nearly wordless layout that balances detailed activity with white space so the eye can rest. Facial expressions and onomatopoeia add to the wackiness of the scenes. Best enjoyed one-on-one or with a small group, the book is sure to win over its audience. &mdash;Julie R. Ranelli, Kent Island Branch Library, Stevensville, MDCopyright &copy; Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.