Judy Moody, M.D.

July 1, 2004
Judy Moody, M.D.: The Doctor Is In! by Megan McDonald, illus. by Peter Reynolds, brings back the irrepressible heroine as her class studies the human body. Taking a field trip to the hospital, performing an operation on a zucchini (they first "take the Hippo oath swear to the Hippo guy doctor best") and getting tonsillitis are just a few of Judy's adventures this time around. .

September 1, 2004
Gr 3-4-Judy Moody returns, and here her medical aspirations go undeterred as she runs the gamut of roles from third-grade med student to nurse, doctor, and patient. She is learning about the human body in Mr. Todd's class, is excited about her project to dress as Elizabeth Blackwell, and will even perform surgery on a live object in front of the class. McDonald once again creates a feisty, individualistic, "RARE!" third grader with a very active imagination, keen wit, and a strong desire to explore the world around her. The author's humor and language are right on target, from describing the ups and downs in Judy's world, sibling rivalry, and conflicts with friends to a hilarious cloning episode. As always, there are facts to be learned and loads of puns and playful language to entertain readers. This is another winner, "for real and absolute positive."-Tracy Karbel, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2004
Gr. 2-4. When her third-grade class studies the human body, Judy Moody dives into the topic with characteristic zeal and imagination. For a class project, she dresses as Elizabeth Blackwell, even attaching fake leeches to her head, reads her poem about the first woman doctor, and performs surgery on a zucchini. Dr. Judy prescribes Popsicles and prunes for her brother's tonsillitis but soon finds herself in bed with the same illness. Worse, she becomes the butt of a cleverly orchestrated practical joke. The class field trip and anatomy lessons are liberally laced with jokes and "humerus" word play, but McDonald never resorts to coarse humor. She finds ample comedy in the way children mishear words and mangle information. Reynolds' buoyant sketches depict Judy's ups and downs in this fifth book of a series that proves laughter can be contagious.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)