The Great Corgiville Kidnapping
Grade 1-4.  In a quaint New England village populated by an array of animals done up in jackets a la Beatrix Potter, Caleb Corgi, a dog detective, begins to feel uneasy about the large number of raccoons appearing in town. Upon investigating, he discovers that they have kidnapped Babe, the "Biggest Rooster on Earth," to cook for a feast, and he sets off to the rescue. The plot is predictable; it is the details that offer pleasure. Tudor uses colorfully descriptive language that brings richness to the story. For example, on finding a trash can "vibrating violently," Caleb taps on the lid and "a shocking volley of oaths greeted his ears." It is a trapped squirrel who tells him, "Those #*#*#* (quite unprintable) raccoons put me in it." The pictures are also a delight, moving from crowded country stores to the raccoons' dark warren and finally to a hot-air balloon drifting over the countryside. Tudor's sketchy watercolors, both small scale and panoramic spreads, draw viewers in for a closer look at all of the homey details. With its slightly longer length and a more challenging vocabulary than most picture books, this title may appeal more to older children and the lucky adults who can share it with them.?Judith Gloyer, Milwaukee Public LibraryCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.