Mrs. Armitage: Queen of the Road
PreSchool-Grade 2-Another delightful adventure about a quirky woman and her loyal canine companion. When Mrs. Armitage receives an old jalopy from her Uncle Cosmo, who has purchased a motorcycle, she tells her dog Breakspear, "It doesn't look very exciting-. But we'll give it a try." She encounters all sorts of road hazards, some because she is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, but others due to her own cheerful carelessness. The automobile is slowly and humorously stripped down, losing its hubcaps, fenders, bumpers, and roof in a ride around the city. When Mrs. Armitage drives out to the country, the car's trunk and doors disappear as well. By the time she bumps into Uncle Cosmo and his motorcycle buddies, the vehicle has been transformed into one impressive lean machine. The gang dresses Mrs. Armitage and Breakspear in leather and they roar off to the Crazy Duck Cafe. The woman's fun-loving nature and her willingness to keep on traveling in the face of adversity make her a wonderful character. Blake's characteristic watercolor cartoons pair perfectly with the silly text, creating another marvelous story about this eccentric but lovable lady.Shelley B. Sutherland, Niles Public Library District, ILCopyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.