The playful protagonist of Way Out West Lives a Coyote Named Frank (1993) returns, this time to find a new friend when an old one departs. Next-door neighbors and best buddies, Frank and Angelina do everything together, from learning about cactus thorns to howling at the moon. Then Angelina's family moves away, and Frank quickly discovers that counting cloud bunnies and tickling tarantulas just isn't the same. Enter a new coyote family with a cub named Larry, and before long, the sun shines again. Actually, the sun is generally shining: even the night scenes are brightly lit in Lund's rocky, cactus-strewn desert vistas. Sporting brightly patterned bandannas, the coyotes caper comically, whether they are mugging at a grumpy puma or hamming up the nightly howl. Frank doesn't forget Angelina, but he learns that his new friend can be just as much fun. It's gently delivered consolation, with plenty of giggle-inducing visual jokes. John Peters