EWE-nique Disguise: The Sheep in Wolf's Clothing by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger

The comic team of Lester and Munsinger are back with a tale of the wild and the woolly, starring a ewe-nique ewe who seems to have been born to be an, um, clothes horse.

Ewetopia is a young ewe who just is not comfortable in her basic wool. But trying out one outrageous outfit after another gets her no notice from the flock. The rams--Rambunctious, Ramshackle, and Ramplestiltskin-- say bl-a-a-h, and the ewes--Ewecalyptus, Ewetensil, and Heyewe--just say b-a-a-a!

Finally, though, for the grand Woolyone's Costume Ball, Ewetopia hits upon the most ewe-nique costume of all--that of a wily wolf.

This was the one! Ewereka!

She loved the warmth of the fur. The shine of the fangs. And especially the way the long-clawed paws swung attractively when she walked. Everyone would notice her now!

Just as Ewetopia begins to wonder why the woolly dancers aren't thrilled with the sight of a sheep in wolf's clothing in the midst of their merrymaking, a handsome figure enters the ballroom:

A handsome stranger, a charming sheepish grin, and wool so lovely, it looked fake.

It looks fake because it is, for beneath the fulsome fleece, Ewetopia realizes, is concealed--a real wolf, a veritable wolf in sheep's clothing.

But at last, someone notices her costume. "Mother!" exclaims the wolf, mistaking Ewetopia for his mom. "I thought you were away on a lamb hunt!"

Soon the wolf rips off his disguise, ready to begin his own lamb hunt! Thinking fast, Ewetopia comes up with a couple of "motherly" requests guaranteed to get rid of any young wolf in a hurry!

"First, my son," she growls, "you must take a bath, clean your claws, and brush your fangs."

The wolf moaned, "Aw, Maaaaaaa!"

"After that you must do your homework, all of it," Ewetopia added gruffly.

"Then, sonny boy, you must pick up your room."

With that threat hanging over his head, the wolf is out of there in two shakes of a sheep's tail.

And Ewetopia is at last the bellwether of the ball!

In The Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger prove that they can still charm a chuckle out of the picture book set with this punny story of an un-ewesual ewe. Munsinger's costumed ballgoers, dressed as Elvis imitators, bikers, Easter Bunnies, caped crusaders, and Santas, are appropriately appreciative as Ewetopia ewe-tilizes her wit to free their fleeces. It's a good-time romp is the jolly spirit of this team's earlier hits, Hooway for Wodney Wat and Tacky the Penguin (Sandpiper Books).