Joe has lost the invitation to the party at Tom’s house, so he and his mom only know the street, not Tom’s address. Joe, who is anxious about attending, walks with his mom down the block, worrying. What if he doesn’t know everyone? What if there are a lot of people? What if he doesn’t like the food? Can she pick him up early? For each concern, his mom has a reassuring response. Meanwhile, they look into the houses, hoping to find where Tom lives. From the outside, each house looks relatively unassuming at first glance, but the scenes inside are increasingly surreal, at least from Joe’s perspective. A blend of muted cartoonlike panels of Joe and his mom walking and talking, and full-page, color–saturated paintings of the houses’ exteriors and interiors further distinguishes between what is real and what Joe imagines, all of which echo his anxiety. There is so much to discover in the details of this picture book and the more readers look the more they will take delight in this masterful and ultimately emotionally reassuring work. (Ages 5–9)