Mop to the Rescue

Readers of Ladybug magazine know the comic-strip tales of Mop the dog and his human family, comprised of Mom, Dad, redheaded twins Julie and Justin and, in a supporting role, the cat Muffin. This book contains seven previously published Mop stories in which the big sheepdog alternates between the roles of hero and bungler: Mop may wreck the twins' insect zoo in one tale, but in another he bravely saves Julie's favorite doll from an autumn downpour. The pleasures of this book are straightforward: Schaap and de Wolf, a husband-and-wife team, offer simple premises, pithy dialogue (with occasional assists from an omniscient narrator) and chipper watercolor cartoons. Even though Mop stories are seldom ingenious or wildly funny, they're always good for plenty of grins, and the format is warm and inviting. Ages 2-6. (Apr.)