BERNIE ENTERTAINING

by Larry Bograd ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 3, 1987

A snappy, lightweight and competent novel that reads like a script for a kids' TV show. Bernard is a 10-year-old card, struggling with sit-com pranks and surviving through luck and a genuine good nature; nothing new here, but in a time when Ferris Buehler and Michael J. Fox are the heroes of the day, Bernie Entertaining entertains well enough. ""Call me Bernie,"" he insists in the first line. Although his experiences are nothing like Ishmael's, Bernie does want to become an astronaut. Fifth grade brings him various trials to endure--his tryout for the football league, his argument with the school bully--and they sometimes encourage and sometimes discourage him. Bernie inadvertently becomes the star of the school's dance festival by falling over himself and everyone else, and his future as a clown seems likely. It's a slight premise and the exposition is predictable, but there's no reason why pleasure shouldn't be had from simple problems resolved simply. Bernie isn't much given to reflection, but his heart is in the right place.

Pub Date: April 3, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 101

Publisher: Delacorte

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S