The imaginoodles

Anthropomorphized hedgehog Henry retreats into a protective ball when overwhelmed, prefers to read about adventures than to have them, and really doesn't want to meet the new kid next door ("He's probably going to think I'm the biggest dork on earth"). And Henry's fears seem justified when the neighbor, headstrong chipmunk Chester, insists on rambunctious pretend play ("This mound of dirt is a volcano ready to EXPLODE!"). After the hedgehog, having reality-checked a number of Chester's imagined scenarios (about the Sleeping Mountains--"These are just little rocks"), finally confesses to a fear of being judged, Chester isn't having it: "Imagination isn't about being 'cool.' It's about being silly and not caring what anyone else thinks." So Henry gives it a tentative whirl--and comes up with an "amazing" voracious sock monster who wants to eat Chester, necessitating a brilliant rescue. If Chester's steamroller antics initially come on strong, all-dialogue text from Eliopoulos (The Yawns Are Coming!) is funny and knowing, the comics-style action moves at a fast clip, and Henry seems genuinely pleased to discover his place among the most exuberant of pretenders. Ages 4--8. (July)

Two animals form a friendship despite their differences. Shy Henry the hedgehog prefers reading about adventures to actually going on them. He worries that his new neighbor, Chester, will think he's dorky. But with prodding from his dad, he heads over to meet Chester. Chester's thrilled and introduces Henry to the world of imagination, which isn't Henry's forte--or so he believes. When Chester introduces Henry to a fire-breathing "dragon" named Denissa, Henry's skeptical: Denissa looks more like a lizard to Henry. But Chester's determined. Wielding a "magic stick," he transforms the backyard into the magical domain of Imaginaria. As they stroll through Imaginaria, they encounter strange characters and places: "the wise and powerful Smartacus" (actually, that's a garden gnome, as Henry points out), the Candy Forest ("lollipops stuck in the ground"), and the Rainbow Plains ("chalk on the driveway"). But with Chester's encouragement, diffident Henry eventually proves himself to be no imaginative slouch. This amusing, fast-paced tale will appeal to readers' sense of fun. Henry and Chester are lively, endearing characters who speak via speech balloons, comics-style. Typographical wizardry, with numerous onomatopoeic words and large, capitalized words used for dramatic effect, will appeal to graphic novel fans. A charming tale that will have readers unleashing their imaginations. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.