HEY, PIPSQUEAK!

Young Jack is tooling along in his pedal car when he spots a black-and-white present done up with a blue bow. Its tag reads, ``R U THE 1 TO TAKE ME TO THE PARTY?'' Yes, he is. But when Jack reaches a drawbridge an enormous troll blocks his way. ``Hey, pipsqueak!'' says the troll. ``I'm the boss of this bridge.'' He wants the present. Jack tries to pass him off with a soccer ball and a pair of skates but the troll won't buy. A giant-sized balloon takes all the hot air out of the troll and Jack drives on to the party. The fluid ink and watercolor illustrations are action-packed and oversized, perfectly complementing the spare text, propelling the humor of the story. In one spread the huge troll looms over Jack, who skates circles around his knees. A particularly funny sequence shows the troll, toes jammed into tiny skates, struggling unsuccessfully to keep his balance. The McMullans (Nutcracker Noel, 1993, etc.) give all the pipsqueaks who have ever had to face a bully a bullseye. (Picture book. 3+)