MAGGIE AND ME Ted Staunton. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 1986. 89pp., paper, $5.95. ISBN 0-921103-00-X. CIP. Subject Heading: Friendship-Juvenile fiction. Grades 3-6 / Ages 8-11 Reviewed by Patricia Fry. Volume 15 Number 2 1987 March Young fans who enjoyed Taking Care of Crumley &185; will be anxious to get their hands on this latest piece of fiction starring Maggie, the Greenapple Street genius and her best friend Cyril. Maggie and Me is a collection of five funny stories about the two friends by author Ted Staunton, who also wrote Puddleman ² and Simon's Surprise ³. Maggie, as usual, is full of incredible ideas and elaborate schemes to save the day. To make use of this genius, Cyril often has to agree to do everything Maggie says, to the reader's delight. Together, she and Cyril outsmart the bully Crumley once again, learn to work together in a co-operative, rather than a competitive fashion, and manage to get Cyril a somewhat starring role in the school play. My favourite story was "Hockey Stuck," in which Cyril's parents insisted he sign up for hockey lessons and Maggie's parents insisted she learn to play the piano. Maggie and Cyril, however, have other ideas and the two friends trade places. Before they are caught, Cyril has learned to play the piano and Maggie has proved herself worthy to be the first girl in the hockey league. This story, like the others, gently questions sex stereotypes with the very characters of Maggie, an extremely competent and clever girl, and Cyril, a caring and quiet boy. The strong friendship between a girl and a boy is another positive role model for youngsters to emulate. Maggie and Me is sure to be another favourite with all young readers who are searching for "a good book." Highly recommended. Patricia Fry, Toronto, ON. ¹ Reviewed vol. Xll/l January 1984, p.35. ² Reviewed vol . Xlll/2 March 1985, p .86. ³ Reviewed vol. XV/1 January 1987, p. 34.