Preston matches wits again with the persistent but woefully inept Mr. Wolf in this sixth installment in an ongoing series. Gaudily clad in red-and-white knickers, with a goofy hat perched atop his head, the always silly (and never sinister) Mr. Wolf is a buffoon who elicits giggles, not shrieks, from readers.

This lift-the-flap tale, with its basic format, opens up the wacky world of Preston for younger audiences, while older preschoolers savor the deliciously witty illustrations. Opportunities abound for reader participation, from manually lifting the flaps to providing piggy noises (a favorite with rambunctious preschooler audiences).

In particular, the illustrations of Mr. Wolf as he endeavors to be oh-so-subtle in his approach are wonderfully absurd. Some parents may take issue at the ever-increasing injuries Mr. Wolf sustains, but it is all part and parcel of the tale's outrageous, over-the-top tone. Readers will be rooting for the chipper Preston as he once again eludes the dastardly Mr. Wolf.

For more adventures with Preston and the wolf, try Preston's Goal. Jon Scieszka's classic The True Story of 3 Little Pigs tells the wolf's side of the story, as dictated from his cell in the penitentiary. With tongue firmly in cheek, Margie Palatini's Piggie Pie features even more porcine humor.