________________ CM . . . . Volume XVII Number 27. . . .March 18, 2011

cover

Music By Morgan. (First Novels).

Ted Staunton. Illustrated by Bill Slavin.
Halifax, NS: Formac, 2010.
64 pp., pbk., hc. & ebook, $5.95 (pbk.), $14.95 (hc.), $4.95 (ebook).
ISBN 978-0-88780-926-2 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-88780-928-6 (hc.), ISBN 978-0-88780-960-6 (ebook).

Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9.

Review by John Dryden.

*** /4

   

excerpt:

Mom is still watching. Aldeen sits on the little bench and opens the folder. She fusses with the music papers. She is a good faker. Aldeen pushed her glasses up her nose and looks at Mom. "I'm shy about playing," she says in this teeny tiny voice. Wow, she is a really good faker.

 

Morgan has been signed up for floor hockey. He hates it. Aldeen has been signed up for music lessons. She hates them. They devise an elaborate switch of roles so that each can do what they really want. Of course, they get caught, but the effort to not get caught makes this book an entertaining read. Morgan has to use Aldeen's name and quickly informs the music instructor that his name is pronounced Al?Dean, and to call him Dean. Aldeen is too aggressive in floor hockey, and a phone call is made to Morgan's house, with the call resulting in Morgan's getting to play more hockey with his dad. The plot is good, and the story moves along at a good pace!

internal art     Ted Staunton has written many books with Morgan and Aldeen. This book continues to exploit the relationship between Morgan, and his friend of inconvenience (nicknamed the Godzilla of Grade Three), Aldeen. Together with his best friend Charlie, Morgan seems to get caught up in all sorts of hilarious mischief.

      Music By Morgan is a short book and written very well. The plot will be well liked by children of all interest and reading levels.

Recommended.

John Dryden is a teacher-librarian and grade 6 teacher in Duncan, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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