People in the town of Prudence are never unhappy. “They never baked cakes (for fear of making a mess).They never played with their toys (for fear of breaking them). . . . Since they never took chances, they were never disappointed.” Despite this premise, which will likely seem alien to young readers, the story follows one boy who is not happy. The lad leaves his grandfather, following a bird that tempts him to the Land of Happiness. En route, the boy sends postcards to his grandfather regaling him with the wonders of his journey. In the Isle of Treats, he gets to decide which candy to try, and in the Gorge of Spoiled Ones, he receives whatever he asks for. At the end of his trip, he returns to his own town and leaves a note for his grandfather declaring that his greatest happiness is “here with you.” The message-heavy fable is redeemed by sumptuous illustrations featuring intriguing, stylized characters and a stunning use of line and color that pulls readers’ eyes through the pages. Grades K-3. --Patricia Austin