THE IMPOSTER

A lonely skunk longs for a family.

Skunk looks wistfully at the pooches in the dog park. They all have families who love them, and he wishes he had that kind of love. Head hanging, he bumps into a pole and suddenly sees a flyer for a missing dog. This is his chance! He can become that dog! The family will never suspect a thing. (Astute readers may already guess where this is heading.) Raccoon, Squirrel, and Cat decide to help Skunk with his transformation. A well-placed sock and glove become floppy ears, and Skunk’s white stripe is painted black. Now Skunk just needs to learn about burying bones, rolling over on command, and begging for belly rubs. The sly plot unfolds in a series of speech bubbles above the foursome’s heads. Alas, there’s one special (stinky) skunk attribute that just might spoil this whole plan. Skunk’s eyes grow wide, and his bottom starts to wiggle. The anticipation grows over a few pages—sure to elicit giggles—until Skunk’s cover is blown. The four pals then set out to search for the real lost dog, creating a joyful reunion and cementing their friendship. Collier’s artwork blends cartoonish humor with moments of tenderness; this is a funny but sweetly told tale of found family.

Explores belonging and identity with humor.