Hamster's friends are all excited about getting to visit Bear's cousin who lives in a land of snow and ice. But Hamster doesn't care. He is only interested in going to see his cousins on the moon, where he knows he will be adored . . . as he should be. If only Snail would hurry up and finish building Hamster's spaceship! Desbordes' second collection of comic strips featuring the high-and-mighty Hamster won't appeal to all readers, but those who can get past Hamster's smug attitude will be able to laugh at his ridiculousness, while also enjoying the sweet nature of the other animals around him. The salty and sweet balance each other in the art as well, as the simply drawn, wide-eyed animals make stuck-up Hamster look even sillier. The strips are not laid out in familiar blocky panels, which at first makes the transitions between them seem abrupt, but the flow smooths out quickly, and readers will soon be caught up in the awkward, cheerful, pompous world of Hamster and his buddies.

Gr 2-4 Told in a series of short chapters, Travels of an Extraordinary Hamster chronicles the adventures of a self-centered hamster and his oblivious friends. Vignettes often start with Hamster interacting with one of his pals. He usually misreads the situation or considers only his own feelings, a punch line or quip is attempted, and the formula is then repeated for the next chapter. Most jokes don't stick their landing, and the sardonic and snarky humor often comes across as clunky. The book meekly moves forward with a voyage to the Arctic, but the story goes nowhere. Characters remain unchanged, with Hamster learning nothing from his narcissistic observations, never once seeing the error in his ways. The lack of any real conflict makes this a light read but ultimately a pointless one. Martin's folky artwork does add a certain charm but not enough to make the trip worthwhile. VERDICT Far from extraordinary. Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI