PreS-Gr 2 Our Kid, a young goat, gets in trouble for being late to school. He didn't have his homework or his uniform, either. Sent to the "Naughty Corner" and essentially wearing a dunce hat, he tells the class an exciting story about his morning. Walking along the shore on his way to school, a submarine unexpectedly shoots up out of the water onto the beach. Fish sailors explain that they are chasing pirates, but could take Our Kid to school on their way. They start off together, but are attacked by dinosaur pirates who steal Our Kid's homework and his pants! After the skirmish, a gentle elephant comes by and offers him a lift to school. Although the story sounds like fantasy, young readers will feel vindication for Our Kid when aliens arrive at school to deliver his clothes and schoolbag. They had found his things with a dinopirate they had invited back to their planet so they can learn more about him. Made up humorous words such as shoffled, splooshed, and glumbumtious are easily deciphered within the story's context and contribute more silly fun to the already outrageous narrative. Brightly colored illustrations have the look of watercolor and ink. Ross's signature style is well executed in this lighthearted romp. VERDICT Use with Mark Teague's The Secret Shortcut to inspire readers to creatively reimagine their own everyday activities. Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond

Late for school again, a little goat named Our Kid sits despondent in the Naughty Corner, explaining why he arrived without his homework, his bag, or his clothes. He recalls leaving home with them, but he hitched a ride atop a submarine that was attacked by dinopirates, who stole all three. Luckily, an elephant offered to carry him to school. The teacher begins a response involving "utter nonsense" when a spaceship lands. Three aliens walk into classroom, hand over Our Kid's possessions, and take off with a dinopirate in their spaceship. Earning his teacher's respect for bravery, the little goat happily skips home. Written with expression, the lively text uses some Dahlesque, inventive portmanteau words (dunkle, bumpeeded), the meanings of which can be unpacked by figuring out the two words combined to create them, as well as nonsense words (kerlumped, zerumbled), the meanings of which can be guessed from the words and pictures useful skill for beginning readers. With a sympathetic protagonist and lovably quirky ink-and-watercolor illustrations, this picture book delivers plenty of read-aloud fun.

A far-fetched excuse for tardiness at school with a twist ending—and dinopirates.The eponymous Our Kid is a young, anthropomorphic goat who can't seem to get his act together. Despite his parents' guidance, he's late to school and has neither his homework nor his uniform. Sent to the corner by his teacher as punishment, Our Kid weaves a fantastic tall tale to explain his tardiness and unpreparedness for school, which involves a shortcut, a submarine, "dinopirates" (who steal his homework and pants), and a helpful elephant with a howdah on its back who finally brings him across crocodile-infested waters to school. Throughout, onomatopoeic neologisms pepper the text and provide a silly sensibility that enhances its telling. ("Why so glumbumtious, little goat?" the elephant asks.) His exasperated teacher doesn't believe a word Our Kid says until green ET's appear and tell Our Kid that they've found his pants and homework while on an expedition to capture a dinosaur for their museum. Chagrined, the teacher gives Our Kid a gold star on his homework and says "You can be as late as you like tomorrow." Ross' cartoon-style illustrations with their characteristic shaky ink line and painterly watercolors evoke humor that reinforces the absurdity of the tale. A tall tale with lots of fun kidding around. (Picture book. 4-8)