  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 05/01/2014 K-Gr 2—When a power outage strikes during story time, the school librarian invites her students to create a tale. Due to conflicts of preference—ogres, snakes, kittens, or ghosts—the students create their own endings to the tale of Graciela the witch. The narrator, a charmingly disheveled young girl, decides to rev up the horror in her tale in order to intimidate the class bully. Emberley's cartoons detail imaginary reptiles and fearful children with equal panache. The story introduces some elements of fiction writing, such as plot, action, and endings. Elementary-aged readers will identify with the classroom dynamics.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 07/01/2014 Missy loves Miss Brooks’ before-school storytime, although whenever she passes Billy Toomey’s house to get there, he snatches her hat and won’t give it back. One stormy morning, she arrives at Story Nook just before the lights go out. Unfazed, Miss Brooks encourages the children to make up their own story while they sit in the dark. Missy takes the lead in creating an imaginative, bloodcurdling tale. Fired with courage, she tells it the next morning to a suddenly terrified Billy Toomey and gets all her hats back. Bottner writes a heartening narrative in which the creative process is practical in that it resolves a problem, satisfying in that it leads to justice, and enjoyable in its own right. Capably constructed and full of lively dialogue, the story is well served by Emberley’s many expressive drawings of the characters, including a sympathetic, symbolic portrayal of Missy burdened by her nemesis. This engaging picture book is a satisfying sequel to Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don’t) (2010). - Copyright 2014 Booklist. Loading...
 |