MARTIN BRIDGE

Poor, dear Martin, he tries his best, but calamities small and large seem to follow him everywhere. In three lively short stories, Martin is a real boy, not a cookie-cutter boy. He follows his natural instincts, even when they are selfish. He acts without thinking, but is never mean on purpose. When curly-headed Laila arrives a day late for his birthday party, Martin wants her to leave, even though her mother has gone shopping. On another day, he forgets his permission slip for the big field trip and is left behind to spend a cranky day with younger children. And in the final hilarious story, he accidentally releases Polly, the class parakeet, and faces the principal two times. Nevertheless, in each situation, Martin’s character shines through as he moves from grumpiness to action, making many friends on the way. Young readers will identify with Martin and will celebrate his successes, while recognizing his shortcomings. The rich secondary characters, realistic charcoal illustrations and familiar situations are perfect for chapter-book readers. May young readers have more from Martin. (Fiction. 7-10)