January 1, 2013
Gr 1-3-In Gutman's silly, implausible yarn (HarperCollins, 2005), AJ, who hates school, is puzzled and unnerved by the arrival of a new lunch lady at Ella Mentary Elementary School-from France! The strange Ms. LaGrange dims the lights and provides violin music and tablecloths. She serves all the American favorites with "French" in front of the name and writes "YAWYE" in the mashed potatoes. When AJ and his friends get stuck in the "vomitorium" freezer while investigating the mashed potato code and the weird new dessert Ms. LaGrange is boasting about, mayhem ensues. It continues at Andrea's birthday tea party-AJ is the only boy invited and there are snails on the menu. On the day Mrs. Ella Mentry herself arrives at the school to present an award, a massive food fight is sparked when some peas and carrots fall from the ceiling-and all the teachers and Mrs. Mentry join in the fracas. Jared Goldsmith's cacophonous, pre-adolescent tonality is the perfect companion to the story's irreverence. He provides AJ's authentic interpretations of the voices of the other characters. Reluctant readers may enjoy this amusing tale.-Jane Newschwander, Fluvanna County Public Schools, VA
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