Once Upon a Blue Moose    by Daniel Pinkwater Order:  USA  Can Yearling, 2006 (2006) Paperback Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Once Upon a Blue Moose is an endearingly silly book that intersperses three short stories - Blue Moose, Return of the Moose, and The Moosepire - with delightful black and white drawings and fascinating moosefacts (like the high price of moose-milk cheese). Blue Moose starts with Mr. Breton's 'little restaurant on the edge of the big woods.' Mr. Breton is a very good cook but no-one tells him so, until an assertive and articulate Blue Moose wanders in one day and takes over his life. The Moose compliments the chowder, acts as headwaiter, organizes supplies, terrorizes the game warden, brings in an owl-headed hermit to make music for entertainment, and (temporarily) hums away winter. In Return of the Moose, the Moose takes over a typewriter and turns himself into an author, writer's block and all. He proves very capable in dealing with errant publishers, and ends up in Hollywood where his story is made into a movie starring Robert Blueford. The Moosepire continues the Moose's adventures as he's recruited to track down 'the dreaded Vampire Moose of North America' in Yellowtooth, which he does with a little help from Nathan of the North, through recognition of a boxcar time machine. The quirky, whimsical, wacky adventures in Once Upon a Blue Moose can be enjoyed from different perspectives and for differing reasons by young and old. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews