cover image Mr. Tite's Belongings

Mr. Tite's Belongings

Nick Warburton. Viking Children's Books, $13.95 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-670-84155-4

Mr. Tite, the befuddled star of this picture book is, well, tight. He hoards possessions until they virtually overtake his home. Each precious item has its place on a long inventory list, and the lot is guarded by an aptly named watchdog, Cheap. Despite these precautions, Mr. Tite worries so much about the safety of his loot that he can't sleep. In the end the stingy fellow makes a surprising decision--one that unburdens him of material goods as well as stress. Warburton's somewhat moralistic story falls flat; the text's direct tone heightens Mr. Tite's lack of personality and sense of humor and makes it difficult to care about his unlikely predicament. Ayliffe's torn-paper collages are graphically arresting, but most often appear to be a nondescript jumble of colors. Youngsters will relate to the greedy premise here, but may question Mr. Tite's sudden willingness to leave his belongings behind. Ages 3-8. (Feb.)