CATEGORY

Our nameless hero--a typical Seuss hybrid who's part bear, part puppy, and part beyond categorization--has an innocent, carefree life, until it's ruined by minor problems. With a toe stubbed, and a tail bitten by a Quilligan Quail ("And I learned there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead, and some come from behind"), he sets out on an ill-fated journey to find a better, less troublesome place: the fabled city of Solla Sollew, no less, "on the banks of the beautiful River Wah-Hoo,/ Where they never have troubles. At least very few." Like most dreamlands, Solla Sollew is harder to attain than expected--nobody seems to know how to get there, and the journey is far worse than anyone anticipated. When the fair city is finally attained there is, of course, a last straw; but a happy twist suggests troubles may be better faced than escaped. (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr