ANOTHER FINE MESS

Recycling ins and outs from Bonning. Fox is getting an unexpected visit from his Uncle Ferdinand, and his den is a mess: fish bones here, eggshells there, trash all around. He sweeps it into a pile and dumps it down a convenient hole outside. It’s not as convenient for Badger, who happens to live in that hole. Badger sweeps up the mess and shovels it down another hole in the ground, this time belonging to Rabbit. Rabbit offloads the junk, unknowingly, on Partridge, and Partridge sends it down into Mole’s abode. Mole simply shoves it out his door where it rolls into the path of Uncle Ferdinand. The only diligent one in the bunch, the uncle picks up the stuff and brings it to Fox’s den. “Look at this trash I found on the road!” he exclaims crossly. Some mice are only too delighted to make use of the refuse, rescuing Fox from his environmental faux pas. Hobson’s homey illustrations—these homes may be subterranean, but they are full of cheer and light and even antimacassars—give the story a warm glow, even as it offers straight talk on trash. (Picture book. 4-8)