MAISY GOES TO A SHOW

Maisy and her friends attend a live theater performance and have a wonderful time.

Part of the Maisy First Experiences series, this outing finds the group with tickets, presumably purchased by their grown-ups, to see Flora Fantastica starring in Funny Feathers.The iconic, wildly popular mouse and her animal friends show their tickets, get programs, and find their front-row seats. Along with the rest of the audience, they get very quiet for the raising of the curtain. The show is a musical tale of jungle animals heading for the big city. Stagehands, here called special helpers, take away the jungle set and bring on the city. The curtain comes down for intermission, a bathroom break for Maisy and Cyril, and snack time for Charley and Tallulah. The bell rings, and it’s time for the second act. At the end there are cheers and a standing ovation. The friends sing as they head home from a wonderful adventure. Cousins includes all the essential elements and appropriate new vocabulary and never allows the enthusiasm to wane. As in previous books in this series, a new experience is treated in a nonthreatening, encouraging tone for very young readers who might be excited but a bit apprehensive about a special event. The signature gouache illustrations in the brightest of hues are familiar and appealing.

Maisy and friends are always a delight.