Pine and Boof, the porcupine/bear duo who debuted in author/illustrator Ross Burach's Pine & Boof: The Lucky Leaf, return in this second madcap adventure. When an egg falls on Boof's head, while the pair are rock collecting, clever Pine deducts that it has come from outer space, and immediately begins making plans to return it to its home. Pine and Boof are going to outer space!

Like its predecessor, Pine & Boof: Blast Off! pairs an engaging and humorous story of two oddball friends with colorful, appealing artwork. I don't know if I'd go as far as comparing this pair with Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad, as I have seen some do, but their friendship and adventures do make for an amusing read. Children, in particular, will enjoy being "in the know," when it comes to what is really going on in the story, as opposed to the characters. Recommended to anyone who read and enjoyed the first story about Pine and Boof, and to anyone looking for odd couple friendship stories. ( )