Nelly May Has Her Say

February 4, 2013
Once upon a time, a “clever and quick” girl named Nelly leaves her impoverished, overpopulated family and goes to work for Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle, a man at the far end of the eccentricity spectrum. Not only does he insist on being called “Most Excellent of All Masters,” he also has an entire nomenclature system for everyday objects. A bed is a “restful slumberific,” boots are “stompinwhackers,” and the dog (who is as perplexed as Nelly is by all of this) is a “fur-faced fluffenbarker.” When a fire threatens the estate, Nelly proves her linguistic adeptness and helps his Lordship understand just how silly he is. The source of this story is the English folktale “The Master of All Masters,” which is similar to Goldilocks in that the setup is more satisfying than the conclusion. Veterans DeFelice (Wild Life) and Cole (Unspoken) give the story polish, but much of the book is essentially a tour of a stately mansion. Still, the ending both resolves the original’s thudding conclusion and shows that employer and employee can have a relationship built on genuine affection and respect. Ages 4–8.

January 1, 2013
A playful remake of the English folktale "Master of All Masters." This is a lurking cumulative tale wherein the accumulation comes in a great, merry rush at the very end of the telling. The broad strokes are the same as Joseph Jacobs': A young girl goes looking for work and lands a job with a single, well-to-do man. A requirement for the job is that the girl must use the unusual names he has given to everyday objects. In the original, he calls his bed a "barnacle," and his pants are "squibs and crackers," but DeFelice has given the gentleman's inventions a supercharging. The bed is now a "restful slumberific," his pants are "long-legged limberjohns," and his hound a "fur-faced fluffenbarker" complete with a "wigger-wagger" (tail). This makes the ending a tumbling, heroic effort, rather than a spray of commonplace wordplay, but it is all in the service of an amusing mouthful of words. Cole's artwork remains true to his warm and humorous sensibility, with Nelly May, the young girl, a gratifyingly emotive creature. The contemporary twist on the ending brings the story right up to the late 19th century. Jocular and sparking with energy, an old tale gets a new turn. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from February 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 3-Nelly May Nimble lives in a tiny house with her parents and her 12 brothers and sisters. One day she announces that it's time to earn her own keep, so she ventures off to the hilltop home of Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle to hire out her services. Lord Pinkwinkle agrees with one condition; the master of the house has special names for things, and Nelly must use those names when she speaks to him. At first, Nelly obliges, addressing Lord Pinkwinkle as "Most Excellent of All Masters," and using his silly monikers, such as "long-legged limberjohns" for trousers and a "flaming pop-and-sizzle" for his fireplace. But when Lord Pinkwinkle's "fur-faced fluffenbarker's wigger-wagger" catches fire, Nelly has to wake him and announce the fire before the house burns down. Can she remember all those silly names before a catastrophe happens? Cole's illustrations juxtapose Nelly's homestead in the "Bottoms" and Lord Pinkwinkle's "roof-topped castleorum" with deft humor and a folk styling that is sure to appeal to young readers. Nelly is spirited and clever, most surely not just another "fuzzy-dust-and-fooder" that his "Most Excellent Master" thinks she is. With one smart heroine and witty wordplay, this book, which is based on the English folktale "Master of All Masters," will delight.-Carol Connor, Cincinnati Public Schools

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Starred review from March 1, 2013
Preschool-G *Starred Review* When hardworking Nelly May takes a position as live-in housekeeper and cook for Lord Ignasius Pinkwinkle, she agrees to use his special names for the house and everything in it. She must call him Most Excellent of All Masters. His bed is his restful slumberific. His dog is his fur-faced fluffenbarker. The kitchen bucket is a wet scooperooty, and so on throughout the house, or as he would have it, his roof-topped castleorum. Late one night, when she needs to inform Lord Pinkwinkle of an emergency, Nelly May shouts out a warning that strings together one silly term after another. She quits. He asks her to return, and they come to a new agreement. While it lacks the economy of Joseph Jacobs' folktale Master of All Masters, on which it is based, this picture-book text captures its spirit and interprets it for a generation that might never hear the tale outside this format. Brightened with cheerful washes, Cole's lively pencil drawings illustrate even the potentially static house-tour scenes with animation while turning Lord Pinkwinkle into a character undergoing a transformation from snooty to aghast to sheepish to friendly. Expanding on a storyteller's standby, this comical picture book is highly recommended for reading to groups of children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)