When Tinker, a little boy, and Tom, his bear, see a star shoot across the sky and discover that it is a baby star looking for its mother, they decide to race to the rescue with their spaceship in the hopes of getting the little star back on track. PreSchool-Grade 2?A fantastical nighttime romp. Unable to sleep, Tinker, a mop-topped boy, and his bear friend, Tom, are staring listlessly out the window when a spaceship crash-lands in the yard. A star-headed baby pops out and immediately takes a shine to Tom. The friends take the spacecraft into the house for a closer look. The baby's hilarious antics reveal its extraterrestrial powers and give Tinker's dad and cat a night to remember. Meanwhile, the boy concocts rocket fuel out of orange juice, ketchup, honey, and other ingredients. Back in the yard, Tinker urges Tom to put the little pilot back in the cockpit so it can be on its way. The bear hesitates, but Tinker finally convinces him. With a push, the spaceship is off, and a beam of light assures the friends that the infant has found its mother. The pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations have a more casual appearance than the glowing, rich look of McPhail's Edward and the Pirates (Little, Brown, 1997), but the style fits the story's playful tone. Young children will recognize Tom as a stand-in for their own imaginary companions. Pair this with Martha Alexander's You're a Genius, Blackboard Bear (Candlewick, 1995), another dreamlike tale of a bear, a boy, and a moonlit spaceship.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. Whimsical, fantasticaland even a little sillythis nighttime story from McPhail (The Puddle, p. 58, etc.) has plenty of child appeal. One night, Tinker and his bear, Tom, are gazing out the window instead of sleeping. A streak of light in the sky turns into a rocket ship crash-landing in their backyard, with a star baby inside. Tinker figures they need to get the dents out of the ship, refuel, and send the star baby back to its mother; Tom is quite taken with the little sprite and wants to keep it. Star Baby eats the cat's food and sends the cat, the cereal, and later, Tinker's dad, flying (gently) through the air; Tinker and Tom fill the rocket with odds and ends from the refrigerator and send Star Baby off, as is right. The rather surreal elements of the story are held in check by the reassuringly familiar surroundings: Boy and bear pad around the cozy kitchen, the garage sports a basketball hoop, five-pointed stars appear in the sky, a night light is on the stove, and cheese and carrots are in the fridge. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Enter your state here Enter your state here Enter your state here Enter your state here Enter your state here