Bubu the artist dog is back from his trip, but when Anna, Froga, and Ron go by to visit him, they learn that his trip was less a vacation and more a reason to get away from all of them! One can hardly blame Bubu, though, since the rest of the gang causes chaos whatever they do, whether it's gardening, going on a picnic, or playing games. Ricard's third collection of comic-strip stories will most likely appeal to readers who appreciate unlikable characters, since they're often rude, bossy, and mean to one another. But the juvenile jokes of their antics will attract those who like the silliness of the Super Diaper Baby comics but long for less scatological humor. Ricard's art switches between adorable, squiggly cartoon drawings with a good amount of detail to picture-book-style art, which shows off her talents as a painter. Though the abundance of flowers and cuteness could make it a tough sell for some readers, a closer look at the high jinks within might turn them around.

K-Gr 3 Bright illustrations lend a feeling of whimsy and joy to this collection of short comics about a girl and her animal friends. The dialogue shows a range of emotions from friendship to frustration to sarcasm, providing a level of believability to the relationships of the characters. The short nature and familiar situations of each strip allows young or reluctant readers the opportunity to quickly finish a complete story line. Whether needing peace and quiet, growing vegetables, or visiting a fair, normal experiences bring a sense of camaraderie to the narrative. However, the lack of continuance of some scenes may cause annoyance or confusion. Readers will easily find a character to which they can relate. VERDICT A cute, colorful, and overall enjoyable introduction to comics and graphic novels. Elizabeth Speer, Cisco College, TX