CENTRAL PARK GHOST

Is there a monster in Central Park?

Cordelia (who describes herself as “squirlish”—“a little bit girl and a little bit squirrel”) was abandoned in the park as a baby and raised by a squirrel; she lives in a treehouse and knows Chittering, the language of squirrels. One day, Fenton the rat (well versed in Chittering himself) tells Cordelia and her human friend Isaac that the Central Park Zoo sea lions have been spooked by a monster lurking around their pool. Groundskeeper Viola informs them that the beast is in fact a coyote that she and her colleagues have been trying to catch so they can bring him to a wildlife rehab center. Using their special skills, the trio track down the lonely, frightened coyote, who’s been separated from his pack. The ensuing adventure is filled with twists and turns and a quirky cast of human and animal characters. Moments of suspense and danger are leavened by humor. This third series entry finds Cordelia more secure in herself, and her friendship with Isaac has deepened. The Central Park setting is key to the narrative—where else but New York could a squirlish youngster encounter a wild coyote, take part in a dog parade, and earn the admiration of the Yankees’ star pitcher? Detailed cartoon art captures the action and depicts a diverse cast of humans. (Cordelia is light-skinned, Isaac is brown-skinned, and Viola presents Black.)

Joyful, charming, and fantastically funny.