It’s all a matter of proportion, suggests Plourde, and Maybella Jean Wishywashy just hasn’t got any. It’s teacher appreciation day at school and every student knows what they are going to do for their teacher, Mrs. Shepherd, whom readers first met in School Picture Day (2002). They will give her apples and wear clothes of her favorite color and scrub her blackboard squeaky clean. Maybella can’t decide what to do, so she figures everything is better than nothing: A shopping cart full of goodies, all of her clothes rather than an outfit, polishing the whole classroom instead of just the board. “Well, that was very . . . thoughtful of you,” Mrs. Shepherd halting responds, “Er, that was very . . . generous of you.” It’s only when the local TV station appears that Maybella shines. When all the other students get tongue-tied, Maybella positively barks she likes “everything” about Mrs. Shepherd. Exuberance and independent thinking don’t get much of a salute here (“everybody knows apples are the official teacher treat”)—Maybella’s not portrayed as a winning sprite, but as too much—especially considering the tepid, vaguely sniffy replies she gets from Mrs. Shepherd. On the other hand, Wickstrom’s artwork is full of life and floats this dour boat beyond expectations. Teachers will appreciate it. (Picture book. 4-7)
