FABULOUS FINISH: The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones
by Will Mabbitt
Viking, 2015. Book on CD. 3 discs.
Do you need a recorded book to listen to on a road trip this summer? This is a great choice. Mabel Jones unwittingly does "the deed" that makes her eligible to be kidnapped by a crew of talking animal pirates. The captain, an evil wolf, convinces Mabel that she must help him find the pieces of a broken X to earn the right to return to her home. Mabel's resourcefulness wins her the respect of her fellow pirates, but can the captain be trusted to follow through with his promise? Mabbitt's plucky main character and tongue-in-cheek humor are perfectly realized by Toby Jones' masterful narration. Children and adults will be chuckling all through this one. Parents should be aware that there is a little potty humor. The print version includes illustrations that add to the fun.

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

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Review: The Factory

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