The Return of Rinaldo, the Sly Fox

Rinaldo escapes from Bruno, the duck detective, and goes back to tricking greedy animals, until he meets up with a beautiful cat

A crafty malefactor (Rinaldo, the Sly Fox, 1992) once again tricks his way through several funny chapters. First seen truly and deservedly bound with rope, he persuades a hare to free him, then springs his unwitting ``accomplice'' from jail and hides out in his cell. After a sleazy sojourn with a couple of gas-pumping raccoons for whom he drums up trade, and working a double deal on a field of rocks, he's royally conned in turn by a gorgeous cat- -but manages to leave his old antagonist Bruno (a duck detective) holding the bag. Gider's lighthearted, cartoon-style illustrations extend the idea that the clever fox's tricks are no more than an entertaining game. Good light reading. (Young reader. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 2-3. Translated from the German, this little book features six loosely related trickster tales featuring Rinaldo, a fox whose scheming ways confound the inhabitants of Feathertown, Glittertown, and environs. Even when a glamorous cat steals his money and his car, Rinaldo still manages to outfox the bearer of the bad news and Bruno, the duck detective who's on his trail. The many brightly colored illustrations will draw young readers to this episodic, beginning chapter book. The stories could be stronger, but there's enough humor to motivate many readers, especially those who took to the original Rinaldo the Sly Fox. Carolyn Phelan