Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors

PreS-Gr 3— Best friends Buddy the dog and Earl the hedgehog are back as "crime-fighting superheroes Wonder Buddy and Super Earl." While the pooch is ready for a nap, his prickly comrade informs him that, "Unfortunately, the good citizens of this fair city expect more from us." He then proceeds to take a call from the mayor on his invisible phone, in which he learns that "the Evil Doctor Stinker has escaped from prison" and is "planning to close down the only hamburger factory in town." The Earl-mobile, aka Mom's new gardening hat, takes them to the evil villain's secret lair, aka the new neighbor's yard, where they meet a bulldog named Mister and a nimble white cat called Snowflake. While demonstrating her own superpowers, Snowflake slips and the dynamic duo, sporting capes and masks, must come to her rescue. Despite a few setbacks, they succeed and then invite their new friends over "to play Lick the Recycling Bin sometime very soon." The illustrations, rendered in acrylic gouache on watercolor paper, capture the humorous antics of the four friends in a palette of lime green and light blue and muted gray and brown on white. Share before recess to inspire adventure and cooperation on the playground.