An original take on the classic unusual pet story features a boy named Wilfred and a moose that he names Marcel. Much of the humor in Oliver Jeffers’s picture book is conveyed through the contradiction between words and pictures. In truth, the moose is somewhat oblivious to Wilfred, though Wilfred is skilled at coming up with rules for being a good pet that showcase Marcel’s natural abilities (“Rule 11: providing shelter from the rain”), and his unwavering fondness for apples. But there’s a complication when Marcel and Wilfred encounter a woman who claims she owns the moose. His name, according to her, is Rodrigo. The surprises come right up to the very last page in a story featuring singular artwork that places whimsical renderings of the characters on top of oil-painted landscapes. (Ages 4–8)

From the illustrator of the #1 smash hit The Day the Crayons Quit comes the age-old tale of a boy and his moose . . .

Wilfred is a boy with rules. He lives a very orderly life. It's fortunate, then, that he has a pet who abides by rules, such as not making noise while Wilfred educates him on his record collection. There is, however, one rule that Wilfred's pet has difficulty following: Going whichever way Wilfred wants to go. Perhaps this is because Wilfred's pet doesn't quite realize that he belongs to anyone.

A moose can be obstinate in such ways.

Fortunately, the two manage to work out a compromise. Let's just say it involves apples.

Oliver Jeffers, the bestselling creator of Stuck and The Incredible Book Eating Boy, delivers another deceptively simple book sure to make kids giggle.