SOLVED. Picture Book - Bear, rabbit, and mouse get lost in city. Trade their clothes to a goat for a boat ride home. [s]

[Angela]

Just remembered another one from when my brother was little. This one was set in big city (reminded me of New York) in a world populated by humanoid animals. The main characters were three friends, a bear, a rabbit, and a mouse. They get lost on the way home from... can't remember where. I think one of them is too proud to ask for directions? Eventually they wind up at this harbor where there's a goat in either a rowboat or a motorboat. He offers to give them a ride home. They just have to give him all their clothes. No idea why, really weird request. I got the impression that he just wanted to mess with them/make them look ridiculous.

Anyway, the animals reluctantly hand over their clothes, although they're extremely embarrassed! I remember a large, double-page spread of the goat taking them across the harbor, while a whole bunch of other animals are gathered on the dock, laughing at them.

Eventually the goat drops them off a few blocks from home. They cover themselves with a bunch of newspapers and walk the rest of the way. Then they crawl into bed and sleep for an entire day because they're so exhausted!

Sooo yeah, this was a really weird one, and I'm not quite sure what the moral/takeaway was. I'm pretty sure I would have read it no later than 2005. I think it's stuck with me all these years because of how odd the storyline was!

I appreciate any and all guesses! :)

[Kris]

The types of animals are not the same, but I'll mention A Pipkin of Pepper by Helen Cooper, just in case.

Angela, why did the three friends visit the city?

[Angela]

Aww, that is one adorable cover! That's not the right one, unfortunately, but at least it narrows down the search pool a little. Thanks for the suggestion!

Hmm, if I remember correctly, the three animals actually lived in a different part of the city? I'm not sure where they were coming from before they got lost, though.

[Angela]

I FOUND IT!!!! The Big Night Out by Thor Wickstrom. Turns out one of the animals was a goose, not a rabbit. I was misremembering some plot details too. According to School Library Journal:

"K-Gr 2-- Mouse, Goose and Bear's big night out consists of taking a cab to the Milk Bar, then dancing and eating till dawn. Exhausted, they discover that they are broke and cannot take a cab back. Instead of walking the 40 blocks home, they walk 80 blocks to try to catch a free ride with Bear's friend, Goat . But with friends like these, who needs enemies. Goat insists that they pay him by giving him their clothes. Naked and embarrassed, they ride home while onlookers--again, "friends" from the bar--gawk and ridicule them. The attempt at humor is convoluted and thin, and it's unlikely that children will find this betrayal of friendship funny. Despite its slapstick style, the rhymed text with repeated phrases becomes tedious and awkward. Illustrations are done in a cartoon style with busy pages that match the frantic pace of a city street. This big night out is a big dud. --Alexandra Marris, Rochester Public Library, NY"

Even the reviewers aren't really sure what to make of this book. It's just so strange, hahaha.