Oscar: The Big Adventure of a Little Sock Monkey by Amy Schwartz Grades K-3 32 pages Katherine Tegen Books May 2006 Hardcover     Susan Green, Cottontail (a fat white rabbit), and Oscar (a little brown sock monkey) are roommates and best friends living in a large New York city apartment. When Susan takes Cottontail to star in a pet show locked in her cage but forgets the key, Oscar immediately embarks on a New York adventure to bring it to her. He sees this as his only option based on the inevitable embarrassment that will occur if the show begins and Susan is unable to release the rabbit from the cage. This trip marks Oscar’s first solo New York outing, but he is able to find the subway that leads to the school. After a few tangential adventures (such as relaxing in a potted plant while imagining it is a desert island and stowing away in a bag of cupcakes purchased by an unsuspecting subway rider), he arrives at the school where Susan is expected to release Cottontail from her cage for the entire audience to admire. As Oscar approaches, he cannot resist defending a child being harassed by a bully, only to find himself the new target of the bully’s attention. With some quick thinking, he is able to escape the bully’s clutches and literally ride to the rescue of Susan (perched atop a passing dog) and deliver the key in the nick of time. Oscar: The Big Adventure of the Little Sock Monkey is a sweet, simple story with whimsical illustrations. Children will very likely enjoy watching Oscar trek through New York in his quest to help a friend.   web reviews   Lori West/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)