FIRST GRADERS FROM MARS

A first grader finds reason to be proud of her physical differences rather than upset about them in this daffy follow-up to Episode 1: Horus’s Horrible Day (p. 862). Thanks to classmate Tera’s gibe, Pelly turns self-conscious about the pompom “fluffernobbin” atop her carrot-like, blue-with-yellow-polka-dots head. After all, except for Pelly and her family, the rest of Teague’s (The Great Gracie Chase, p. 188, etc.) rubbery, sea anemone–like aliens (in human dress) sport tentacles. Corey’s dialogue comes straight out of any terrestrial classroom, and Pelly’s special feature receives due validation at the climax, when a member of the Grand Martian Opera sweeps in—“fluffy, fabulous fluffernobbin” and all. Like Dan Yaccarino’s Blast Off Boy and Blorp series, the themes are familiar, but they’re played out in a nutty, futuristic setting, so the lesson seems less heavy-handed. (Easy reader. 6-8)