Company's Going - Hardcover

Arthur Yorinks is a celebrated writer and director. His many books include Company's Coming, illustrated by David Small; the Caldecott winner Hey, Al, illustrated by Richard Egielski; Harry and Lulu, illustrated by Martin Matje; and The Miami Giant, illustrated by longtime friend and cofounder of The Night Kitchen Theater, Maurice Sendak. Visit Arthur online at arthuryorinks.com.

David Small is the author and illustrator of many picture books, including the classic Imogene's Antlers. For many years he worked as an editorial artist, his work appearing frequently in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Awarded the Caldecott Medal for So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George as well as Caldecott Honors for One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo and The Gardener by Sarah Stewart, David also wrote and illustrated the National Book Award Finalist Stitches: A Memoir. He has collaborated on several acclaimed books with Sarah Stewart, including The Library. He and Ms. Stewart are married and live in Michigan. You can find him online at davidsmallbooks.com.

This droll follow-up to Company's Coming opens as Shirley and Moe and their company from outer space bid farewell to other dinner guests: a cache of cousins as well as "all the soldiers, pilots, Marines, FBI men" whom a panicked Moe (convinced that the space creatures were launching an invasion) had summoned in the previous tale. In these unsettled times, readers may find the initial images of tanks and missiles surrounding the hosts' suburban home disturbing, but the visuals then brighten considerably. Sitting side by side on the sofa, the two delightfully silly-looking aliens announce that Shirley's meatballs were the best they have ever tasted and invite her to cater their sister's wedding on their planet, Nextoo. Tickled, Shirley clutches her hands together and, when told that the planet is located next to Uranus, gushes, "Oh, I love Uranus!... Not that we've ever been there, but I hear it's very nice." Such laugh-out-loud lines punctuate Yorinks's playful narrative, which follows Shirley and Moe (who load 27 suitcases onto the spaceship) to Nextoo. Here, in a clever turnabout, the spacemen's Uncle Irving stuns the humans with his ray gun since he suspects them of being invaders. Recovering in time to prepare the wedding feast, the couple serve up enough meatballs "to feed the whole planet" and dance the night away before returning home. This comical collaboration makes very good company. Ages 5-9.

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