Boris and the wrong shadow

K-Gr 2-Boris, who was shipped around the world in Boris and the Snoozebox (Tiger Tales, 2008), is back in another adventure. This time the feline wakes up to find he has the wrong shadow. It appears to be that of a mouse and draws the snickers of other animals. Boris is upset and thinks that if he had a bigger shadow, say an elephant's, "everything would be hunky-dory." Just when he is about to sink into despair, he spies his own shadow attached to his mouse friend. Vernon is reluctant to give it back since it makes him feel noticed for the first time, but when it proves to be too big to fit into his home, the friends swap and realize they should concentrate on more important things. Although the mixed-media collage illustrations and broken text add a frenetic quality to the story, readers will enjoy poring over the details. Nearly every animal and object has its own shadow, which is a clever touch.-Beth Cuddy, Seward Elementary School, Auburn, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Feline Boris awakens from one of the catnaps he pursued in Boris and the Snoozebox (2008) to discover he's got the wrong shadow. A mystified Boris casts the shadow of a wee mouse, causing his cat cronies to snicker and birds to ignore him. After checking out his reflection to make sure he's still 100 percent cat, Boris realizes Vernon the mouse is sporting his shadow. Vernon confesses he swapped shadows when Boris was snoozing because Boris' shadow makes him feel "BIG and IMPORTANT." Saddled with Vernon's tiny shadow, Boris understands exactly how Vernon feels, but he still wants his own shadow back. Using teamwork the unlikely duo switch back, but not before some serious bonding between cat and mouse. Relying on varying font sizes and typefaces to emphasize words, the witty text is cleverly incorporated into enormously creative mixed-media collages combining simple lines, bold patterns and bright colors in a visual cacophony that actively propels readers from page to page as Boris and Vernon pursue and untangle their shadows. Droll drama amid eye-catching artwork. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.