Naughty Nancy Goes to School
Words can't begin to describe just how naughty Nancy the mouse is. In  fact, wordsdon'tdescribe her naughtiness... In John S. Goodall's  wordless picture book, the entire story is told through exquisite and humorous  watercolor paintings. Nancy is dragged by her determined-looking mother through  the gates of school, to be met by the matronly bell- and stick-wielding teacher.  But no sooner has Nancy's mother left the premises when her irrepressible  daughter starts acting up and acting out. Mimicking her teacher, climbing onto  the roof to retrieve a ball (that she hit up there, of course), tormenting her  classmates on a field trip to the shore, Nancy is a menace. And yet, when  another young mouse finds himself in dire straits, it turns out Nancy has a bit  of a valiant, selfless heroine in her, as well.The reprinting of many of John Goodall's wordless books (Naughty Nancy,The Midnight Adventures of Kelly, Dot,  and Esmeralda,Shrewbettina's Birthday, etc.)  is a windfall for imaginative beginning readers. Children can make up the words  to the story as they go along, changing it as they notice new details, or  according to their own mood or whim. Half pages alternate with full pages to  advance the story--young readers will be intrigued by this unusual format. The  mice's old-fashioned attire is nicely coordinated with the oh-so-modern  mischief. (Ages 3 to 6)--Emilie Coulter