Queen of the Scene Book and CD
Kindergarten-Grade 3–The eponymous, self-assured ruler of the playground can do it all: play basketball, tennis, and soccer; run sprints; score at handball and stickball; jump rope; and build the best sandcastles. She does not hesitate to say so, and she is shown as just a little larger than life. But on the last page, she meets her parents, who are waiting on their stoop for their little girl to come home before it gets dark. Written in rhyme and delivered with lots of sass, this empowering story is sure to appeal to those who can celebrate their own special gifts. The rhyming can be bumpy at times and a little forced, but the salute to girl pride is strong throughout. Morrison's paintings are an ideal match for the text. His elastic-bodied figures are graceful and brazen, reminiscent of his illustrations for Brenda C. Roberts'sJazzy Miz Mozetta(Farrar, 2004). The pages spin with movement and action. Despite a few flaws, this book is a worthwhile purchase. There can never be too many books to help children recognize and be proud of their strengths.–Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, MECopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.