HILLARY TO THE RESCUE

“Be prepared” is the message in this sweet but nearly catatonic tale. Hillary, a kitten, has a date to attend a play in a neighboring city with her drama club. It is cold and snowing, so Hillary bundles up with layers of clothes and scarves and “Super-Duper Below-Zero Snow Walkers.” But once in the van, she begins to melt down, and she gets a gentle chiding from her pals about overdressing and not having dress-up clothes like they have. The snowstorm turns into a blizzard, the van skids off the road, and Hillary puts all her clothes back on to walk to a house they can see across the street. The lady of the house invites them in to spend the night as the roads are closing. So the drama club puts on a play about a snow rescue to entertain themselves and their host. The next day, spare clothes are brought out and the kids bundle into them and head home. “ ‘Next time I’ll bring my own winter gear,’ said Marcie on the way home.” The artwork is as mild as this strangely domesticated story about an event that should have been at least a little scary. The car skidding off the road, the storm, and the trudge through the snow—it is as though these excitements are packed in lint. And what about Ginny’s dad, the driver? Talk about a feckless boob: a story could be built on his irresponsibility alone. (Picture book. 5-8)