KIPPER AND ROLY

Pig sends out birthday party invitations with a gift list that turns out to be a bit too short on suggestions in this latest episode of a popular series. Pig asks for a pet; unfortunately, the gerbil that Kipper chooses for him turns out to be so cute, so talented, that Kipper names it and then becomes reluctant to give it away. As usual, the spare text is printed in large type, and the illustrations collaborate actively in advancing the plot. In the end, Kipper downheartedly does his duty, but Pig, who has already received a rabbit, two guinea pigs, a mouse, and even a stick insect from other party-goers, delights his canine friend by asking him to keep taking care of “Roly.” Inkpen gives his dot-eyed figures the barest minimum of surrounding detail, so that the puppy-gerbil bonding will be clear even to very young fans. Though this may not have the psychological depth of Russell Hoban’s A Birthday for Frances (1968), for instance, the harmonious, tidy resolution brings its own brand of satisfaction. (Picture book. 3-6)