Unbeknownst to Moonbear and Little Bird, a kangaroo and her joey have escaped from the zoo and have bounced into Moonbear's yard. The two friends mistakenly think they must be dreaming (because why else would a kangaroo be hopping there?) and decide to make the most of their new, dreamlike state. Moonbear and Little Bird begin their adventure by eating all their stockpiled honey and birdseed, and then, delighting in this mischief, they mess up Moonbear's house. They don't have to suffer the consequences because they only need to pinch themselves to wake up! Asch humorously wraps up the story by introducing the zookeeper, who creates order out of the chaos. Asch's familiar restrained illustrations, computer-generated in Photoshop, neatly reflect the story's understated humor and the beloved silliness of Moonbear's world. This title will be welcomed by fans of the earlier books about Moonbear and his friends. (Reviewed September 15, 1999)

When Bear and Little Bird see an escaped kangaroo, they assume they must be dreaming. They decide they can do anything they want since all will return to normal when they wake up, so they eat their winter supplies and make a terrible mess in their house. Asch's surprise ending, his boisterous sense of humor, and his simple, bold illustrations are just right for preschoolers.

Moonbear and Little Bird think they're dreaming when they see a kangaroo (escaped from the zoo) hopping across the yard, in the ursine hero's latest caper. Ages 2-6. (Sept.)