IF THE S IN MOOSE COMES LOOSE

Alphabet mayhem ensues when a cow frantically tries to reattach the last two letters in “moose.”

COW has only a “gloomy MOO” and is “all alone without her MOOSE, / whose E broke free and whose S came loose.” Like any good preschooler, she goes for the GLUE but does not have any of those letters either. She embarks on a wild adventure, borrowing letters (with a bit of larceny thrown in) from a GOAT and a BEAR on a chair. She assembles them in various combinations, to make a BOAT, an EAR, a CAKE, and a LAKE. The letters are rendered as large, three-dimensional capitals, interacting with what they denote in rib-tickling juxtaposition. A bear snoozing in a chair atop the words BEAR CHAIR becomes an ear relaxing in that chair, which now balances on EAR CHAIR. Only angry BULL fails to join in the game, refusing to give up his U. Following the crash of a CART, ART featuring a cart hangs in a museum, but finally Cow has the G, L, U, and E for her GLUE. One more task remains: rounding up the missing S and E to regain her best friend. All ends happily. Hermann’s fast-paced romp will likely leave readers laughing and spelling along. Cordell’s illustrations, rendered in pen and ink and watercolor, match the kinetic pace of the tale. His animals are loosely drawn and delightfully expressive.

Little listeners and beginning readers alike will enjoy the rhyme and wordplay