Richard and Pamela Wolfe: Walter's planet

By MARGIE THOMSON

Walter McWhirter is "unlike other boys". Studious and possibly a little obsessive, he collects things - strange things like pieces of piping and boxes of springs. But while other kids are outside being ordinary, Walter builds himself a telescope with some of his bits and pieces and discovers a planet.

A well-known astronomer checks out his results: "I'm extremely impressed! Your discovery , it seems, has total compliance with all the requirements of modern-day science!"

The planet is named after Walter, whose parents are tremendously relieved that their son is not the dead loss they feared he was.

We are becoming used to the Wolfe format: the quirky, funny story told by Richard in jaunty rhyme; the terrific illustrations provided with great detail and colour by Pamela. As with their other books - Mouse Opera and Mouse Hotel - the stories tell us much about oddball lifestyles, although in Walter's case success lifts his obsessive isolation. He ends up playing soccer with friends, an ordinary boy, despite his collecting and inventing.

Publisher: Random House, $29.95