EDDIE'S MENAGERIE

by Carolyn Haywood ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 30, 1978

Two separate series of incidents, flimsily connected, and not one of Eddie's more auspicious appearances altogether. In the book's first and better half, his natural way with animals and refusal to be put down gain him an unpaid (because he's underage) part-time job in crusty, kindly Mr. Cornball's pet shop, where he foils one child shoplifter and suspects poor classmate Roland of being another--but resourcefully replaces the presumed-stolen goods rather than let on. The bridge to part two is a red, white, and blue hat just like Mr. Cornball's that he buys (for $5) at the County Fair from--it just happens--booth-keeper Mrs. Cornball. College baseball star Sandy Lowicki admires it at the annual Spring Fair and soon everyone in the fifth grade (except unfortunate Roland) is sporting one and they're Sandy Lowicki hats--admission, eventually, to a Sandy Lowicki ball game (Mr. C. Lends Roland his). Finally, tacked on, there's a real ($200) horse for Eddie, whose early yearning we took for a true-to-life pipedream. Together, Eddie's overstocked larder and Roland's bare cupboard make this surplus property, as we see it, for kids.

Pub Date: Aug. 30, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Morrow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1978

Categories: FICTION