THE KRAZEES

Iggie and her jellybean-nosed tiger cat approach terminal boredom on a rainy day—until a herd of striped, checked, polka- dotted, pop-eyed Krazees spring from the drawers, cupboards, and other hiding places to gambol destructively about the house.

Swope (The Araboolies of Liberty Street, 1989) borrows more than the plot from Dr. Seuss—"Have you ever seen the Krazees?/Have you seen them here and there?/Have you seen them in your TV set/and in your underwear?"—but, heavy with nonsense words, the derivative text makes a properly silly read-aloud. Brace's rubbery monsters chase Iggie through room after room, sawing, spraying, and gobbling, but it's a tidy rampage, leaving knocked- over furniture but no visible stains or damage. At last the sun comes out, and once "plipple plop bim bango—poof!/Those Krazees go away," Iggie runs outside for a bit of "jumping stomping bongo bopping" of her own.

Suitably wild homage: Should the Cat in the Hat be occupied elsewhere, this may fit the bill. (Picture book. 5-7)