STICKY BEAK

A rare bird indeed—a sequel that is actually more enjoyable than its predecessor. Feisty, mute Rowena is a year older than she was in Blabber Mouth (see above). Her father has married her teacher, and they are expecting a baby. Ro is worried that when the baby is born, not mute, her father won't be interested in her anymore. When the bully Darryn abandons his silent pet cockatoo in favor of a poodle that barks all the time, Ro senses a kindred spirit and adopts the bird. As it turns out, this foul-tempered fowl can talk, with a vocabulary to match his temper. Rowena's vibrant personality and knack for finding trouble are even funnier this time around. Whether she's making a video on pet abuse, trying to enter Darryn in a dog show, or throwing a bowl of custard into an electric fan during a party, Ro succintly makes her thoughts and feelings known. (Fiction. 8-12)