Hi-Jinx #7

Tommy's trusted with the key to the Kitty-Kola before a big opening, but when a backyard game of hide-the-thimble takes an unexpected turn—the hidden key ends up swallowed by a wandering chicken—he's got to think fast to save the day. With some quick problem-solving and a handful of rice, Tommy learns that sometimes the messiest situations lead to the cleverest solutions.

A car abandoned by its owners for a shiny new model decides it's not ready for the scrap heap—and takes matters into its own hands by running away. With the police on its trail, a fresh coat of paint, and a talking dog's help, this determined old jalopy discovers that staying ahead of fate is harder than it looks, especially when ghostly wrecks and junk yards have other plans. It's a rollicking ride through a 1948 humor tale that proves even the most worn-out engine has a little fight left in it.

Tommy's exhausted after working on his jalopy all night, but his pals drag him to the beach for a costume party at the Surf Club—and when he can't stay awake, Kitty decides to teach the sleepy guy a lesson by setting his raft adrift. By the time Tommy wakes up and makes it to the party, he discovers that Heppity's been making moves on Kitty while wearing Tommy's own costume, leading to a surprise twist when the judges announce the evening's big winner.

A young reader discovers a magical way to visit Old King Cole and learn why the nursery rhyme calls him a merry old soul—only to find the grumpy king far from happy with his pipe, bowl, and fiddlers. When Mother Goose faces trouble for her misleading verse, our hero whisks the king to the modern world to show him better food, music, and tobacco that will finally make him cheerful. It takes a series of hilariously failed improvements to teach King Cole an unexpected lesson about contentment.

When Tommy Hepcat's chickens refuse to lay eggs, his pal Heppity suggests trying music to get them going—a trick he read about that actually worked for another farmer. As Tommy and his friends experiment with different musical approaches and advice from visiting characters, they discover that sometimes the simplest solution comes with an unexpected twist.