Martin Bridge faces the music and learns the ropes in this installment in the widely acclaimed chapter-book series.
May 1, 2009
Grades 2-4 In the first of two stories, Martins mother takes up the electronic keyboard and practices with great enthusiasm but no talent at all. In the next, Laila joins the Junior Badgers but gets the cold shoulder from every boy in the troop. Each situation evokes an emotional shift and, eventually, an empathetic response in Martin. Like other books in the sensitively written Martin Bridge series, this features wide-spaced lines, a large font, and an illustration on nearly every page. Loosely connected to the second story, the appended instructions for building a marshmallow catapult are practical and promising.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2009
Likable boy-next-door Martin learns a few more lessons about family and friends in two episodic stories. In "Keyboard," Martin eventually comes around to supporting his mother's enthusiasm for music--despite her lack of talent. In "Rope" he recognizes true courage when his sometimes-friend Laila joins the all-boy Junior Badger scouts. Lively black-and-white illustrations round out these engaging tales.
(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)