STINKER'S RETURN

Tsynq Yr (Stinker) was last seen leaving earth in a space shuttle stolen with the help of friends Karen and Jonathan (Stinker from Space, 1988); the little alien had been forced to take the form of a skunk when he crashed on Earth. Now coming home, Tsynq Yr expects to be greeted as a hero; but it seems that his unauthorized visit has irritated the High Gryn of Twak, ruler of the sector of space containing Earth. Unless Tsynq Yr can revisit Earth and bring back a matchless souvenir for the High Gryn's museum, things look bad. In a flash, Tsynq Yr and the children find themselves in Washington, dodging NASA officials, and—with the help of an aging Captain Kirk-like movie star- -stealing Dorothy's ruby slippers from the costume museum. Triumphant, Tsynq Yr sets out once again for home. Unfortunately, the first book's cheerful romp has become more labored and frantic in the sequel. Kids may enjoy reading about a skunk- shaped alien meeting the President, but it's a one-idea story with no place to go. For active sf collections. (Fiction. 8-12)