THE BIG BLUE THING ON THE HILL

When a mysterious “big blue thing” appears, forest animals are baffled and afraid, so they try to make it leave.

Readers (or their parents) will know that the “thing” is a VW bus, but the animals don’t. Nevertheless, they sense that it poses danger. After much speculation about what it might be (an elephant? a dinosaur? a thing?), the wolves suggest frightening it away. They howl at it in the night, all to no avail. The bears are equally unsuccessful in spooking it with growls, and the wild boars’ huffs, puffs, pushes and shoves can’t budge it either. The smaller creatures (foxes, badgers and weasels) then try to dig around it and bury it—only to have it make a noise. This frightens everyone, and they run to seek the counsel of the Wise Owls, who suggest that the very smallest of creatures form a “BIG BUG FLYING SQUAD” with “a snake or two…for good measure” to swarm the big blue thing. Lo and behold, the plan works, and the animals can enjoy their pristine wilderness in peace—until another visitor arrives to deliver a space-age punch line. While the story never explains why the thing is unquestionably a threat, it revels in its telling, and detailed, playful, digital art succeeds in heightening humor.

One thing’s for sure: This will be a big hit.