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MR. ADAMS'S MISTAKE by Peggy Parish

MR. ADAMS'S MISTAKE

By

Pub Date: April 26th, 1982
Publisher: Macmillan

Instead of Amelia Bedelia misinterpreting directions, the mixup here derives from Mr. Adams' poor eyesight. Thus, in going about his ""special job"" which is hauling truant children back to school, Mr. Adams drags the newsstand man's chimpanzee helper Corky off to the classroom. Though the teacher and children know that Corky is not a boy, as Mr. Adams insists, they have to put up with him. But that becomes increasingly difficult as he throws his book, dumps the fish into the turtle bowl, and paints the children instead of the paper. Finally the newsstand man, Mr. Adams, and a policeman burst into the classroom--and, as Mr. Adams shouts ""Show me a chimpanzee! If there is one in this class, my face is red,"" Corky splashes his paint and ""Mr. Adams was red all over."" That moment will get a laugh, but until then the classroom chaos has been uninspired and the pictures flat and predictable.