Ollie & Moon

K-Gr 2—After frolicking through Paris in Ollie & Moon (Random, 2011), these feline friends are back for another adventure—this time in New York City. Not long into the day, Moon realizes something is not quite right. Her best friend is not his usual self because nothing she does seems to make him laugh. The cats make a bet that Moon will be able to make him laugh, and the comedy ensues. Several attempts produce a grin at most from Ollie, even though readers will laugh out loud as Moon performs hot-dog tricks, shows off her less-than-stellar dance moves, and joins a troupe of street mimes. It is not until something out of their control happens that they both, and readers, start rolling with laughter. The Big Apple is never mentioned specifically, but readers are taken on a photographic tour of its familiar sights, including the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Chinatown, the New York Public Library, Times Square, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Kids who know the city will take pride in recognizing the landmarks, yet unfamiliarity with it doesn't detract from the story. Bright cartoon drawings superimposed on the photographs bring to mind the style in Mo Willems's Knuffle Bunny (Hyperion, 2004). A must-have for most libraries but especially those in New York and surrounding areas—Karinn Figdore, William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA