TOAD HEAVEN

Gleitzman brings back the pustulant pipsqueak hero of Toad Rage (p. 329) for further ground-level riffs on man’s inhumanity to animal—with an Aussie beat. Wrongly believing that he’s been infected with a contagious disease as part of a cane-toad extermination program, gimpy Limpy reluctantly hops off alone in search of a fabled National Park where his surviving “rellies” might find refuge from all of the maniacal motorists intent on turning his kind into flattened roadkill. Meanwhile, buying the smooth promises of hunky grifter Malcolm, said relatives hie off in the opposite direction into what promises to become a death march. Many references to slugs, slime, bugs and poo later—along with narrow squeaks, plus trenchant encounters with slaughterhouse-bound sheep and lacquered-toad gift-shop novelties—Limpy returns to effect a rescue, and, with the help of loyal gourmand sidekick Goliath and doughty little sister Charm, leads his people back to their cozy swamp. Some of the humor may be lost on readers unfamiliar with the warty main cast, but the cliffhanger-laden plot and high “yuck!” factor will carry them through this sequel. (glossary of slang) (Fiction. 10-12)