46 // The Skunk / Mac Barnett, Ill. Patrick McDonnell

The Skunk / Mac Barnett, Ill. Patrick McDonnell

• Roaring Brook

• 2015

• When a skunk first appears in the tuxedoed man's doorway, it's a strange but possibly harmless occurrence. But then the man finds the skunk following him, and the unlikely pair embark on an increasingly frantic chase through the city, from the streets to the opera house to the fairground. What does the skunk want? It's not clear―but soon the man has bought a new house in a new neighborhood to escape the little creature's attention, only to find himself missing something... - From Amazon.

• Animal Stories. Mysteries.

• I loved the black and white end papers and the subtle difference between front and back being the red bow tie to represent the man in his tuxedo. This book had a spooky (yet not scary) noir feel, with the stalking skunk, and there was a palpable air of dread that sucked me in that I think would keep kids hooked. But that dread turned to sadness when the skunk was no longer around - the ending was nice and open ended for the reader to decide what happens next.