Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day
Starred Review. Grade 1–3—In this delightful addition to a solid series, fluent beginning readers will identify with Wagner's April Fools' Day of frustration and satisfaction. In the first chapter, the mouse is fooled by his friend Pearl, his teacher, the librarian, and the cafeteria menu. Then he hopes that the announcement of a math test is another trick, only to discover that "It's for real." Next, Mr. Jumper holds a dance contest during a rainy recess in the gym. Pearl dazzles everyone with her jitterbug and Lulu hip-hops with some "smooth moves," but when Wagner boogies down he falls on his behind. In the third chapter, Wagner asks to visit the school nurse. He returns to class covered with green spots and announces that he has "a bad case of bug pox" and that it's catching. After several loud sneezes, he exclaims, "Ah...ah...ah...April fools!" McMullan's exquisitely crafted story has an endearing blend of humor, humiliation, friendship, and familiar school scenarios. Done in pen and ink, watercolor, and colored pencil, Alley's distinguished illustrations feature a variety of expressive animal characters whose kinesthetic expressions cheerfully depict many of the happenings.—Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.