Alfie's Great Escape

K-Gr 2—After he and his friend Toby have a fight, Alfie the baboon steals car parts and escapes the wildlife park. As he is driving down the road, he sees a house with balloons and decorations. It turns out to be a child's wild animal—themed birthday party. Mistaking Alfie for a child in an a baboon costume, a nice lady invites him into the celebration. Alfie soon learns that just because you're at a wild animal party doesn't mean you should act like one. Can Alfie find a new place to fit in, or will he miss his friend Toby and go home to the wildlife park? Some of the words seem a bit forced and difficult for an easy reader. The grammar is a little off and makes the story confusing at times. Still, it is cute and has a unique point of view that readers will enjoy. The characters are simple but more realistic and likable than most books at this level. The use of speech bubbles and lively, colorful illustrations throughout the book add dimension to the text and will engage children. Emerging readers who like animals, books with unusual perspectives, and friendship stories will enjoy this offering.—Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City, UT