PELLY AND MR. HARRISON VISIT THE MOON

The going-to-bed routine morphs into a fantastic adventure when Pelly notices an unusual fixture attached to her family’s bathtub. Accompanied by her canine sidekick, Mr. Harrison, the inquisitive child soars into outer space when her bath rockets out the window. The lively pair meets aliens who demonstrate striking similarities to their human counterparts. At times, the storyline’s action merely hums along—“Pelly and Mr. Harrison got into the bathtub and floated back down to earth”—but curious details add depth. The sun heats the alien version of s’mores (s’moons), while moon pies prove to be a delectable delicacy. There are no unexpected bumps along the journey home, as Pelly returns to reality just in time to hear her mother’s call. Both perspective and Pelly’s stature vary whimsically against the vast space skies. Solid bursts of colors add drama, and the repeated use of compact typed captions (“moon... moon... moon....”) make for playful use of environmental print. A graph-paper background peeks through thinly applied paint, adding a sense of scientific discovery to the adventure. The concluding page hints at the possibility of a remarkable reunion. All in all, a light, imaginative romp. (Picture book. 4-7)