WHEN RANDOLPH TURNED ROTTEN

It’s probably true that 95 percent of the time Randolph the beaver is an upstanding fellow. Living with his best friend, Ivy the goose, the two eat, play and read together in perfect contentment—that is, until Ivy is invited to a girls-only sleepover. Jealous and put out, Randolph's formerly lovely insides seethe with such envy that they are replaced by new stinky rotten ones. He plots to keep Ivy from having a good time, loading her down with unnecessary baggage. Yet when events turn out for the best and Randolph is unwittingly made the hero of the day, the sober and apologetic beaver gratefully makes up with his best friend. Harper's cartoon layouts and thick, colorful paints complement each another well here. She is adept at doling out equal parts sweetness and sly understated humor. Randolph at his most gleefully evil hasn't the mischievous staying power of a Rotten Ralph or a David, but that just means he has other more lovable qualities. A charmer of a read. (Picture book. 4-8)