When King Milford offers his entire kingdom to whomever can grow the largest watermelon, the residents of Chestnut Cove stop helping one another and become selfish. By the creator of Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe. Kindergarten-Grade 2?Egan follows up Friday Night at Hodges' Cafe (Houghton, 1994) with another slightly daft story about waging peace. When King Milford offers his entire kingdom to the grower of the largest watermelon, the neighborly atmosphere of Chestnut Cove darkens with suspicion and jealousy as residents vie for the prize. As the summer passes, tension mounts?until suddenly, the day before judging, the whole town turns out to rescue Mrs. Lark's pet pig, Eloise, from a tight spot; all realize how silly they've been, and the event becomes a companionable all-night melon fest. When Milford sees the paltry specimens left, he sails away in disdain. In the tradition of James Marshall's George and Martha (Houghton), the shmoo-like hippos (in antique small-town dress) of Chestnut Cove are drawn with utmost simplicity, but their tiny eyes and eyebrows convey a world of feeling. Ducks, pigs, and emulike birds roam freely through tidy streets and spacious living rooms, fully accepted members of the community. A distinctive, unconventional ribtickler with a deftly delivered point.?John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. Ages 4^-8. Chestnut Cove is a friendly community, where interesting things are always happening and neighbors try to help each other out as they go about their daily business. Then the king offers to give his kingdom to whoever grows the biggest, juiciest watermelon. Gradually greed and competition separate the villagers, until a sudden catastrophe brings them all together again. The lesson is gentle, the storytelling laconic, and the pictures are wonderfully domestic and silly. The villagers are hippos in human dress, going about their respectable business, their town painted in bucolic green and brick red. The absurdity shows that common sense isn't what it seems and that self-interest is quite ridiculous. Hazel Rochman "A distinctive, unconventional ribtickler with a deftly delivered point." -- Review Tim Egan is the author and illustrator of several offbeat and humorous tales for children. He is consistently recognized for his individuality and delightful illustrations. Born in New Jersey, Tim moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He still lives in southern California with his wife, Ann, and their two sons. To learn more about Tim Egan, visit his Web site at www.timegan.com. For a complete list of books by Tim Egan, visit www.houghton mifflinbooks.com.