Marge in Charge and the Stolen Treasure

February 1, 2018

Gr 4-6-The eccentric babysitter with multi-colored hair is back in this sophomore entry in the "Marge" series, which was first published in the UK by celebrity author Fisher. In the tradition of Mary Poppins and Nurse Matilda, Marge is a modern reboot of the classic British nanny who brings adventure into the humdrum lives of her charges, all while getting them to accomplish unpleasant tasks by adding a bit of whimsy. This new installment has the same format as the first: three self-contained short stories, although this time, Fisher introduces a new baby to the mix and Marge must now mind Jake and Jemima's baby cousin, which adds a whole other layer to the mayhem. The new adventures include a fun-filled day playing pirates, a trip to the town pool as explorers rescuing stolen treasure, and a wedding in which near-disaster ensues. The slapstick humor is right on target for the intended audience and humorous cartoonlike illustrations of varying sizes can be found on every spread. Jemima's first-person narration puts readers right into the action as Marge creates magic, fun, and resourcefulness wherever she goes while sometimes getting it wrong, which forces the big sister to save the day. No knowledge of the previous book is necessary. Marge may be a bit over the top for some, but she certainly has panache. VERDICT Light and entertaining, buy where the first installment is popular.-Kate Nafz, Fair Lawn Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2018
These three new chapters chronicling Marge's babysitting antics (Marge in Charge, 2017) include a new baby, a trip to the swimming pool, and wedding mishaps.Rainbow-haired Marge is a modern twist on Amelia Bedelia and Mary Poppins, creating genial havoc in the lives of her charges. Jemima and her little brother, "Jakeypants," now joined by their destructive baby cousin, Zara, love the zany stories Marge tells them as she's working. Whether it's casting Zara as a pirate baby or convincing Jake to put on sunscreen, Jemima relates these adventures in a boppy, upbeat tone with liberal use of exclamation marks. Marge, who may (or may not) be a duchess, peppers the narrative with tales hinting at England's colonialist past. While embedded in a seemingly all-white cast, Marge claims she "decided to sail to Africa...to explore faraway lands." Later, a spot illustration shows her dressed in stereotypical Bedouin garb, reminiscing about the time she "galloped across the Arabian Desert...on a royal expedition." Early on Jake jeeringly compares baby Zara's "fat thighs" to a sumo wrestler's, and the stories seem actively intent on avoiding any textual or emotional depth.Readers who have graduated to chapter books may enjoy the imaginative adventures of the babysat, but caregivers may want to point them toward stories that are more meaningful or less cloying. (Fiction. 6-9)

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