"Hey, Al" by Arthur Yorinks, Illustrated by Richard Egielski

When Janitor Al and his best friend/pet Eddie are offered a chance to escape a life of drudgery and dullness for a beautiful paradise, they jump at the offer.  This book is beautiful, really beautiful, and is smartly written.  I love the allusions to classic literature.
This book gets Jack excited, every time.
Miles makes sure to say, "Eddie's a good swimmer." He doesn't like suspense.
(Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 1986)