THE LAST LAUGH

A sly snake with a fondness for sneaking up on unsuspecting animals and making them jump earns both humiliation and a taste of its own medicine in this nearly wordless outing—dedicated “to bullies everywhere.” Having frazzled a passing bird, a ground squirrel and a family of opossums, Snake inadvertently swallows a duck and, suddenly only able to quack rather than hiss, not only draws ridicule from other snakes, but attracts a huge flock of other ducks. Ultimately, the first duck climbs out, and Snake happily watches the flock depart—unaware of one remaining bird who is drawing breath to emit a huge “QUACK.” Drawn with the bright orange snake and variously colored other animals suspended in small, blank cartoon panels, this is too purposeful to make much impression on dedicated bullies—but it’s just silly enough that it may give their victims some vicarious satisfaction and a great belly laugh. (Picture book. 4-6)