Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano (But She Does Love Being in Recitals)

November 1, 2009
Gr 3-5-In this quick, quirky story, Moxy is preparing to play "Heart and Soul" with her sister in a piano recital. She's excited to dress up and go onstage in front of a large, adoring audience, but one small detail stands in her way: she can't seem to find the time to practice, so she's really not prepared. With her mother and aunt just back from Africa, her stepfather incessantly working on a poem about the elephant bird, her grandmother sewing glittery capes for the concert, and her friends and siblings in the mix as well, who can blame Moxy for getting a little distracted? Plus, she's got important things to do, like making fake ermine trim out of bath towels for the capes. Black-and-white snapshots "taken by Moxy's brother" are scattered throughout, providing glimpses into what the household and family members "really" look like. This installment will keep readers looking forward to the next one."Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2009
Grades 3-5 Planning to prepare for her piano recital with a dress rehearsal at home, Moxy puts all her time and energy into her dress, leaving none for actual rehearsal. Her piano teachers fear that Moxy will get into an endless loop of Heart and Soul prepares readers for an onstage catastrophe, but the evenings events still come as a surprise. Like other entries in the Moxy Maxwell series, this story offers a fresh, comical view of a childs outlook and experiences. Large type, widely spaced lines, short chapters, and black-and-white snapshot illustrations add to the appeal of this inviting chapter book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)