MUGGIE MAGGIE

Poor Maggie! Life has been good until now. But this year--third grade--everyone has to learn CURSIVE. Curses! Maggie hates the idea of cursive, and she refuses to learn. However, Maggie Schultz is out for the contest of her life when she comes face-to-face with Mrs. Leeper, a third-grade teacher as resolute as Maggie is. Narrator Kate Forbes is a wonderful match for this headstrong heroine. While she reads the entire book in a single voice, her subtle intonations convey every variation of character: Mrs. Leeper's unfailing optimism; Mr. and Mrs. Schultz's end-of-their-rope exhaustion; Principal Galloway's sternness; and, above all, Maggie's indignant, self-willed, spunky attitude. Kids are sure to identify with Maggie every step of the way. T.B. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 00]