NANA TAKES THE REINS!

Though her daughter thinks she’s too old to do anything interesting, Nana takes it into her head to ride a bull when the rodeo comes to Lettuceberg. But first, she and grandchildren Eufala and Bog have to get her 1948 Dusty Drifter repaired. And before that, they must outsmart Tuff and his seven Ruffies, larger-than-life adult bullies rumored to eat house pets. The tangled lariat on the endpapers reflects the twists and turns of this episodic nonsense tale in which Nana finds the key to Tuff’s heart. An intrusive third-person narrator describes Nana’s adventures in short chapters with intriguing titles, such as “One Undeniable Silver Lining” and “Mister Tasty Toes,” and plenty of dialogue. Occasionally readers are addressed directly, especially in the beginning as characters are introduced. Sometimes the narrator interrupts herself with an “oh dear,” or, “perhaps you’re wondering.” This companion to Nana Cracks the Case! (2010) stands alone; the static characters distinguished by a single trait (zany Nana, candy-loving Bog, bossy big sister Eufala and the soft-hearted bullies). Horne’s pop-eyed cartoon characters, in vignettes and some full-page gray-scale illustrations, add to the humor. Like Nana’s elderly car, this story hops along. The sheer randomness of the plot may keep readers fixed: What could possibly happen next? But in the end they are left with something less sticky than even mind-candy. (Fiction. 7-10)