JUST LIKE HEAVEN

Following his Art (April 2006), cartoonist McDonnell returns to his Mutts characters to tackle another weighty topic with just the right touch. As Mooch the cat falls asleep under his favorite tree, a fog rolls in. When he awakes, he decides he must be in heaven: He smells sweet perfume (wildflowers covered by fog) and hears children’s laughter (kids playing in the park, obscured by the fog). He even comes upon a big angry dog, who would usually send him running in fear, but Mooch gives him a hug and the two part as friends. Mooch ends up at his favorite tree and falls back asleep. The fog clears and he wakes up. His best friend Earl the dog is asleep next to him; the sun shines on the neighborhood. Mooch thinks it’s a great place, just like heaven. Perfect for storytime for small groups or one in a lap or as a gift to your favorite curmudgeon, this gentle lesson should find a place in most collections. (Picture book. 3-7)