Family Reads

What-the-Dickens

What-the-Dickens

by Gregory Maguire © 2007, 295 pages Level 4 (all about levels) Read Amazon Reviews

 

Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked and The Hamlet Chronicles, now treats us to a brand new story about a rogue tooth fairy called What-the-Dickens. Orphaned at birth, this skibberee bumbles his way through his first days of life and tries to find out where he fits in. He'd really like to become the pet of McCavity, a cat who unfortunately lacks a soft spot for winged creatures. He knows he doesn't want to be adopted by the bird who sings off-key.  But when he meets Pepper, a tooth fairy on a mission, he thinks he must be on to something.

But skibbereen are suspicious sorts, and Pepper's colony isn't receptive to this stranger. Can he learn enough about their ways and prove himself worthy of belonging to their ranks?

The tale of What-the Dickens is a story-within-a-story and is told by Gage, an older cousin who has come to stay with three children during a natural disaster that cuts them off from power, food, and civilization. Their story runs parallel with the events in What-the-Dickens' life, and eventually intersects in a satisfying twist.

Lori

The writing in this book is truly delightful. As I read to Ben, we stopped often to appreciate Maguire's work—amazing descriptions, clever wordplay, ironic coincidences, etc. It was a teensy bit challenging as a read-aloud, only because of the frequent passages of dialog that don't indicate the change in speaker. It's no problem when you're seeing the pages, but a little trickier if you're only hearing it. However, in the hands of a skilled artist, I imagine that this would be a fantastic audiobook!

What-the-Dickens is wonderful modern-day fairy tale. Don't expect to get carried away by the plot, but instead enjoy the humor, the interesting characters, and the unique look at the world of a tooth fairy.

Ben

This is a great book. The plot moves along quickly, making for an easy read. The characters are charming and unforgettable—children and tooth fairies alike. Though easy to read, this novel is very exciting. I would recommend this to both young and old readers.

Toys Go Out

Toys Go Out

by Emily Jenkins
© 2006, 117 pages Level 3 (all about levels)Amazon Reviews

 

What is it really like to take a ride in the washing machine? How come all the toys don't get to sleep on the bed? And what does it mean to be a Plastic? Being the adventures of a knowledgeable stingray, a toughy little buffalo, and someone called Plastic, as the subtitle of Toys Go Out suggests, this book chronicles the adventures of three toys who belong to a six-year-old girl.

These unusual playthings come to life in the off-hours of the day and seek to figure out the mysteries of the universe, well, at least their universe, based on what they know of it. So, for example, when you are eight years old, you are all grown up and you can drive a limousine, and you brush your teeth without being told, and you have lots of money to buy all the chocolate you want, amongst other privileges. These characters become more and more lovable throughout the book and their personalities are revealed through the witty, and sometimes wise, dialogue.

Living with a six-year-old is rarely uneventful, and the toys find themselves in one situation after another where they grapple with insecurities as they face the unknown together. And if we step back, we can see that's a fair description of life for little ones. When you've only lived a few short years, new experiences wait around every curve. While it can be a little scary sometimes, you sort it all out according to what you've learned, taking great comfort in the friends you make along the way.