How to turn a recital disaster into a triumph? One little girl uses imagination, bravado and her lucky underwear to overcome a colossal case of stage fright. She has practiced “Dance of the Wood Elves” diligently and has wonderful support from her piano teacher and her parents, if not her big brother. When she steps confidently onto the stage, however, she totally forgets everything she rehearsed. But this little girl is nothing if not plucky and inventive. The only note she can manage is Middle C, so she plays it in several different ways with gusto, verve and true artistry, earning great applause. McGhee never allows an iota of self-pity or frustration to dampen her heroine’s good humor, and she employs a first-person narration to tell the story in direct, vivid, fast-paced colloquial language. Menchin’s digitally colored pen-and-ink cartoons are remarkably detailed while appearing deceptively simple and childlike. They convey all the emotions and actions and lovingly complement the text. As her dad would say, Splendissimo. (Picture book. 5-8)
