About This Book

Cat and Mouse are the best of friends. But Cat wants to play checkers and Mouse wants to play cards and since the two can't agree, Mouse goes home. So Cat puts an ad in The Hollow Log Gazette for a best friend he can play with. In no time at all, prospective applicants are knocking at Cat's door.

First, there's Mole, who is a bit messy for Cat's tastes (well, really he's a slob) and who would rather eat than play checkers. After Mole comes Otter, who almost destroys Cat's house by trying to play football, basketball, and soccer inside — all at the same time! Raccoon shows up with a skateboard and Cat nearly gets killed riding the object in the street. If only there was someone like Cat's dear ex-friend, Mouse. Finally, Cat is willing to play cards if only his real best friend will come back. Amazing what a little compromise can accomplish.

Each animal character is fully realized in Lynn Munsinger's lovable illustrations. The Mole is properly slovenly, the Otter is too playful for his own good and everything about the Raccoon is sly and suspicious. A.M. Monson's simple story of conflict and resolution shows how important compromise is, especially with the people we care about.