Blast Off! (Pine & Boof #2)

PreS-Gr 2--Another fun adventure from this humorous duo. It begins as a normal day for Pine the porcupine and Boof the bear. The two buddies are out collecting rocks when Boof is bonked on the head with an egg from outer space. Pine knows that they need to do the right thing. Somehow they must to return the egg to its nest in space. It will not be an easy task. The pair will need a sweet rocket that will take them into the great beyond. An old log will make a fine cabin for the rocket and bean cans are excellent boosters. Space training is also essential. They need to be able to handle g-force launch speed and nourishment is imperative, so the friends must bring plenty of sandwiches. They are finally ready for blastoff. Pine may be the "brains" of the team but Boof adds entertainment. He does a lot of hard thinking and even more eating. The pencil illustrations have enough detail to make the characters and scenarios captivating to young eyes. The limited palette works well. The dark background creates the illusion of the friends being on a faraway planet. It also allows readers to focus their attention on the main characters. While the pair create their mode of transportation and believe they have arrived on a distant planet, young readers will enjoy seeing what is actually happening. VERDICT An enchanting book about fun, friendship, and imagination; purchase where the buddies are popular.--Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA