Blurring the lines between graphic novel and chapter book, Wight's (My Dead Girlfriend) children's book debut introduces a protagonist as singular as his name. Frankie Pickle (short for Franklin Piccolini) fuels his everyday life with fantasy. When sent to clean his room, he imagines himself a convict: Been here so long I forget what the sun looks like,'' he says, scrawling a sixth hatch mark on the prison wall underneath minutes here. When Frankie's mother declares that he doesn't have to clean his room anymore, at first Frankie was living on cloud swine. But when even his dog won't go in his room and his sister declares he has the natural aroma of ripe garbage, Frankieas an intrepid adventurermakes his room so clean it made soap look dirty. Wight's bw comic illustrations brim with action and wita moldy sandwich turns into an eight-eyed monster and Frankie makes joyful snow angels in clutterbut Frankie's tonefunny without being smart aleckyis Wight's finest achievement. Full of rib-tickling irony, this is a strong start for the series. Ages 710. (May) Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.