Judy Moody and the Bucket List. (No. 13). Megan McDonald. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press (Distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada), 2016. 158 pp., hardcover, $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-7995-8. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by John Dryden. **** /4

excerpt:

“P.U. Hold your nose,” said Stink.

It was hot, and here were piles of horse poop everywhere. And where there was poop, there were flies. Tons of flies. Big fat horseflies buzzed Stink’s head. Judy swatted one that landed in her hair.

“You could make a million dollars as a pooper scooper here.”

Book 13 in the Judy Moody series is another fun read. Judy goes through Grandma Lou’s purse trying to find a deck of cards. As Judy rifles through the purse, she finds grandma’s bucket list. Judy loves lists and is interested in making a bucket list for herself. Judy proceeds to try and find ways to scratch off various tasks on her list. She invents something, learns how to make a cartwheel (sort of), rides a horse, faces a fear, and tries to raise enough money to go to the real Antarctica! One of the items she copies from her grandma’s list is ‘make a difference’ which she decides to do by donating all her money she has earned from her ‘Antarctica’ fund raising to her grandma who is trying to raise money for new books for the library. Judy does not complete her entire list, but she is determined to keep up her efforts.

     I really enjoy the “Judy Moody” series. Judy Moody and the Bucket List is engaging, fun and humourous. I think Megan McDonald is a super writer for younger students. Peter H. Reynolds continues to add delightful illustrations.

Highly Recommended.

John Dryden teaches in the Cowichan Valley in BC.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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