Mighty Mo

PreS-Gr 2—Mo is a rambunctious raccoon whose zoo habitat is too small for his big dreams. He escapes his enclosure and searches for something amazing to do, deciding to try his hand at talents that his friends possess. Alas, with every activity, Mo only manages to make a mess, and he becomes discouraged. His spirit is quickly lifted when he is called upon to stop a burglary. A successful capture restores Mo's confidence, and in the end, he comes out a mighty hero. While the text includes some great vocabulary words, the story line is just so-so. The illustrations are colorful and the animals eccentric and expressive. Perceptive children may catch the foreshadowing of the lurking burglar, who appears on the frontispiece and in the background. On the whole, this book works well, but it is not an essential purchase.—Emily E. Lazio, The Smithtown Special Library District, NY