An agreeable Alaskan musk ox embodies that old Ben Franklin adage, "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." When Cozy the ox is separated from his herd in the midst of a winter storm, he decides to wait it out. His massive size and warmth attract small animals--a lemming family and a snowshoe hare--desperate to escape the cold. However, as bigger, predatory creatures arrive, Cozy must lay down some "house rules" that grow with each new creature that arrives until they extend to: "Quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, no biting, no pouncing, and be mindful of others!" Over time, the guests grow antsy, but at last spring arrives and Cozy can find his family. The tale is not dissimilar to another Jan Brett tale of cold weather and animals squeezing into a small space (The Mitten, 1989). Meticulous watercolors refrain from anthropomorphizing, rendering everyone, from massive Cozy to the tiniest of lemmings, in exquisite detail. This moving tale of gentle kindness serves as a clarion call for anyone searching for a book about creating your own community in times of trial. Brett even includes little details about real musk oxen in the text (such as their tendency to form protective circles to surround their vulnerable young), but readers hoping for further information in any backmatter will be disappointed. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.4-by-20.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 37.3% of actual size.) For readers who haven't a musk ox of their own to snuggle up with, this tale proves just as cozy. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

K-Gr 2--Cozy is a young musk ox in Alaska who gets separated from his herd during the harsh winter. Luckily, his silky coat is soft and thick and he is well protected from the biting Arctic wind. Soon a family of lemmings comes upon Cozy and quietly shelter next to his hoof without saying a word. When a snowshoe hare shows up asking if he can wait out the storm under Cozy's coat, Cozy agrees, but asks the hare to use a quiet voice so as not to disturb the lemmings. Then an owl happens upon them and requests shelter as well. Now a new rule must be added which is "claws to yourself." As the story progresses, more and more animals take shelter with Cozy and each new addition requires another house rule. By the time spring rolls around, this motley crew is getting a little less compliant, and Cozy is relieved when all his visitors begin to return to their spring homes. Cozy is joyfully reunited with his herd, but is happy to know that he will see his new friends again when winter returns. VERDICT Children will love the cumulative growth of an unusual home, and, as usual, the illustrations alone make this a safe bet for Brett-friendly collections.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph P.L., MI

As in Brett's classic The Mitten, a group of animals seeks refuge from the winter cold in a cramped hideout. This time, though, the refuge is a living being--a young musk ox named Cozy whom a storm has separated from his herd. First, a family of lemmings takes shelter under Cozy's warm bulk, hoping the ox won't notice. A snowshoe hare, a snowy owl, and more, all inhabitants of the Alaskan tundra, crowd together underneath the patient ox. The proximity of predators and prey forces Cozy to institute rules: "For the harmony of all, quiet voices, gentle thumping, claws to yourself, and no biting." The idyll continues until springtime sends the creatures on their way. While the story is fanciful, it takes into account the real-life temperaments and habits of tundra creatures. As in earlier Brett tales, detailed artwork suggests the finesse of scientific illustration as side-panel vignettes hint at what's to come. During a period in which some families are spending more time together in tight spaces, the comforting live-and-let-live message is timely. Ages 4--8. (Oct.)