At the end of the school year, Mortimer takes a plant home from his third-grade classroom. Throughout the summer, Plantzilla continues to grow and Mortimer continues to love and nurture it. Strange things ensue. His quiet, boring, well-ordered household, complete with well-mannered cat and prize-winning Chihuahua, is totally disrupted: the plant starts to grow tentacles and to eat meat (the dog disappears) and perform all sorts of amazing feats. The boy's parents begin to worry, but the protagonist is delighted with his clever plant. The text is all in the form of letters-from Mortimer to his teacher describing the progress of his plant, from Mortimer's mother to Mr. Lester complaining about it, and from Mr. Lester to each of them. Catrow's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations spill across the pages, creating a marvelous sort of ubiquitous vine with tendrils curling all around, each one doing something different. The dog, cat, and several squirrels romp in its branches, and Mortimer dances and plays with his friend, who eventually becomes almost human and very benevolent. This humorous story may be shared with a group but will be best savored by individual readers who will have fun absorbing the wildly imaginative illustrations close up. Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.