Barbara Dana has written the long-awaited sequel to her children's book _Zucchini._ This time, it's _Zucchini Out West!_ Yes, Zucchini is headed for the wide-open prairie, traveling with his human, Billy. Billy's dad (not step-dad, who stays home with Mom) is driving them, along with Billy's little sister and her pet mouse, One-Day Service. Billy is interested in ecology and particularly in endangered animals--especially (you guessed it) the black-footed ferret. Billy is excited at the thought of meeting the scientists responsible for BFF conservation--yet, at the same time, he is worried. Is Zucchini a BFF? If he is, Billy must do the ethical thing and return him to the wild. . . and oh, that will hurt! Of course, if Zucchini's a domestic ferret, Billy will still be able to love and care for him as a beloved companion... Yes, there are some tear-jerking moments along with the humor and the scientific knowledge and the human/ferret interest. I do not want to spoil the ending for anyone--but I will say that the cover picture looks exactly like my Emmett! So all of us should be able to figure out the answer to the riddle before it's even asked! I actually liked this one even better than _Zucchini_ although it's more didactic (but since I approve of the underlying concepts, it didn't bother me) For grades 4-6 or for ferret friends of any age. Kate Pappas, children's librarian, owned by Emmett Kelly Ferritt and part-owned by bOoKeR the Library Cat [Posted in FML issue 2129]