The Great Paper Caper

Jefferss ("The Incredible Book-Eating Boy") forest creatures have dots for eyes and sticks for legs; they live in tidy holes in the ground, equipped with home offices and washing machines. Responsible citizens, they notice that trees in their forest are missing big branches, and organize themselves to find the perpetratorreaders know from the outset its the bear, in need of paper for a paper airplane contest. The drama unfolds in neatly paced vignettes and comic bookstyle panels with the rounded corners of old television sets. Jeffers joins the speech balloons to his characters mouths with ruled pencil lines; his spidery writing is a sweetly incongruous vehicle for fast-moving patter (Ill be the detective and you can be the judge, the beaver tells the deer. Why do I have to be the judge? the deer protests, and waves a hoof toward the pig. Why not him? Im the prosecutor, thats why, says the pig). The conclusion nods toward forgiveness and restorative justice, but its the anti-crime tape that gets the laughs. Jeffers lobs a joke or two over the heads of young listeners, a gesture that will be welcomed by presiding adults. Ages 35. "(Jan.)" Copyright 2008 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

K-Gr 3There's something amiss in the forest, as branches are mysteriously disappearing. At first, the animal friends accuse one another but when alibis pan out, they realize that they have a thief on their hands. Setting out to solve the mystery, they discover that the bear has been stealing branches and making them into not-very-good paper airplanes for a competition. After a short trial, he confesses and agrees to replant the trees he has destroyed, and the other critters help him reuse the wasted paper to create a prizewinning entry. Managed forestry is the theme of this book that features folk-art-style animals with funny little stick legs. The mixed-media illustrations nicely complement the spare yet eloquent text. Though this clever title may need hand-selling to readers, teachers will welcome it for lessons on the environment."Angela J. Reynolds, Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Bridgetown, NS, Canada" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.