Company's Going

November 5, 2001
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.

February 1, 2002
Gr 1-3-Familiarity with Yorinks and Small's Company's Coming (Hyperion, 2000) is helpful before undertaking this sequel, which begins with a chilling scene. Moe and Shirley's small house is surrounded by tanks and missiles pointed directly at it. When the narrative begins, readers find that these are soldiers, pilots, Marines, and FBI men. They're leaving, but there's no explanation of why they were there in the first place, although conclusions may be drawn from the fact that two aliens are sitting on the couch. Impressed by Shirley's meatballs, the spacemen announce that they would like her to cater their sister's wedding on their home planet, Nextoo. Moe is reluctant, but Shirley enthusiastically packs 27 suitcases. Despite reassurances from the aliens that they live on a peaceful planet, the two have barely disembarked when they are shot with a ray gun by a nervous uncle who assumes they are invading Martians. The response to his action is, "How could Uncle Irving shoot the caterers, ' sobbed the bride-to-be. Now what-I have to have a wedding-with no food?'" While there are numerous funny moments, this kind of quirkiness may not sit comfortably with many adults. Small's watercolors support the text wonderfully, but again, the card reading "Sorry We Shot You" on Moe and Shirley's bedside table is questionable humor.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.