The Night Riders

Newcomer Furie’s wordless story of a frog who takes off with his pet mouse on a moonlit bicycle ride is filled with unexpected turns. Story elements come and go without being developed. Nightmarish creatures turn out to be friends. The characters are resolutely un-cute. The frog snags a moth with his tongue (it’s in the spirit of snacking, but it’s still a little graphic). There are other tongues in the story, too. Early in the journey the frog and the mouse meet a dragonlike creature that looks like a venomous snake with bird legs. As the snake-bird comes in close, apparently ready to strike, the mouse boldly licks its snout, and the monster licks him back in the friendliest possible way. It’s one of several oddly heartwarming moments. The snake-bird joins forces with the frog and the mouse, and the three travel underground, through a deserted town, and into the ocean, where they surf on dolphins. On every page, Furie imagines ever more pleasantly surreal plants, trees, and animals. Fans of the wandering, exploratory nature of many current video games will be mesmerized. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)