Nicholas Again
Gr. 3-5. Irrepressible French schoolboy Nicholas returns in this follow-up to 2006 Batchelder Honor bookNicholas(2005)--the first two of five existing books to be affectionately translated by Bell, none of which have been previously available in the U.S. In brief, stand-alone vignettes punctuated with line drawings byNew Yorkerillustrator Sempe, Nicholas continues to tussle with his gang of elementary-school pals, exasperate Old Spud and other school officials, and obliviously push his parents' buttons. The sophisticated-looking cloth format may be difficult for some young readers to get past, as will a few dated references (Asterix creator Goscinny originated this character in the 1950s). There are also elements that seem out of place in an illustrated chapter book, including humor drawn from adult-world dynamics and one insult translated as "feeble-ass." Readers who enthusiastically tackle American novels about mischievous elementary school kids may not be quite up to this worldlier French version, but they'll certainly enjoy hearing the silliest tales read aloud, and chapter-a-day sharing may help gather an audience among slightly older children, too.Jennifer MattsonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved