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MORGY COAST TO COAST

In a hyper-frenetic plot, reinforced by fast-paced but thoughtful narration, Lewis perfectly captures an active nine-year-old boy’s life. Morgy’s a thinker and a doer; he’s one year older than in his first outing, Morgy Makes His Move (1999) and growing in skill and maturity. Does he still fall flat in ice hockey; is he still menaced by bullies; does he miss his best California pal; are his budding trumpeting skills annoying? Yes, but he has become more philosophical, continues to make the best of challenges and maintains a sense of humor. Supported by Chesworth’s action-packed black-and-white drawings, Lewis keeps the hot pace going from beginning to end with nuclear-family life exploding into a feverish conclusion when sister suddenly needs music at her wedding and Morgy is quickly tutored in “Ode to Joy” on trumpet. Truly a boy who has learned how to blow his own horn. Bravo. (Fiction. 9-10)

Pub Date: May 2, 2005

ISBN: 0-618-44896-9

Page Count: 80

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2005

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DAVID GOES TO SCHOOL

The poster boy for relentless mischief-makers everywhere, first encountered in No, David! (1998), gives his weary mother a rest by going to school. Naturally, he’s tardy, and that’s but the first in a long string of offenses—“Sit down, David! Keep your hands to yourself! PAY ATTENTION!”—that culminates in an afterschool stint. Children will, of course, recognize every line of the text and every one of David’s moves, and although he doesn’t exhibit the larger- than-life quality that made him a tall-tale anti-hero in his first appearance, his round-headed, gap-toothed enthusiasm is still endearing. For all his disruptive behavior, he shows not a trace of malice, and it’ll be easy for readers to want to encourage his further exploits. (Picture book. 5-7)

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-590-48087-1

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Scholastic

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1999

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NO MATTER WHAT

Small, a very little fox, needs some reassurance from Large in the unconditional love department. If he is grim and grumpy, will he still be loved? “ ‘Oh, Small,’ said Large, ‘grumpy or not, I’ll always love you, no matter what.’ “ So it goes, in a gentle rhyme, as Large parries any number of questions that for Small are very telling. What if he were to turn into a young bear, or squishy bug, or alligator? Would a mother want to hug and hold these fearsome animals? Yes, yes, answers Large. “But does love wear out? Does it break or bend? Can you fix it or patch it? Does it mend?” There is comfort in Gliori’s pages, but it is a result of repetition and not the imagery; this is a quick fix, not an enduring one, but it eases Small’s fears and may well do the same for children. (Picture book. 2-6)

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1999

ISBN: 0-15-202061-6

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999

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