Christopher returns in this fifth picture-book devoted to his adventures, this time on holiday at his family's rural summer cottage. When a storm washes out the road leading to town, Christopher embarks on a canoe journey to get there, in order to find food for himself and his mother. His dog Ben tags along, and the two have an exciting and somewhat dangerous time...

Like its predecessors, I appreciated both story and artwork in The Washout, which is probably the most suspenseful, of the five Christopher stories I have read thus far. One gets a real sense of danger, both for Christopher and his dog Ben in some of the lake scenes, and I suspect young readers and listeners will be on the edge of their seats, as the two weary travelers make for shore. The artwork is lovely, in a vintage way, although contemporary readers might find some of the details - the clothing, the vehicles - somewhat dated. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories about outdoor adventures, and to those who have read and enjoyed other stories about Christopher. ( )