THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GOOFY
by Jon Scieszka & illustrated by Lane Smith
A third fast-paced entry in the ``Time Warp Trio'' series (initiated with Knights of the Kitchen Table, 1991) takes the boys from watching a cowboys-and-Indians show that one of them describes as ``just a bad character actor reinforcing mindless stereotypes'' to a parodied western adventure that's just as lively but more PC: The cowboys are multiracial, and when the boys are captured by Indians, there's a debate about their potentially gruesome fate; ultimately, the good braves save the boys from Custer's cavalry and are in turn saved by the boys as they contrive to return to the present. The humor's not quite so freewheeling here, but kids will enjoy the nonstop action, undeterred by the occasional more thoughtful details. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 8-12)