When push comes to shove, timid Maggie is determined to overcome her catty rival!

Now that she can read, Maggie is eager to show her new teacher. But when Maggie is called to the front of the class, her knees shake like jelly, her mouth dries up like a desert, and she can't utter a sound. She's forced to sit down while snooty Kimberly takes over and reads with ease. And the next day is no better. When called on, a miserable Maggie silently prays for the floor to swallow her whole or a rocket to blast her into space. And Sneering old Kimberly, who coolly remarks that she's been reading since she was a baby, triumphs again.

All poor Maggie can do is hold back the tears while she imagines all manner of uncomfortable fates to befall her stuck-up rival. It isn't until Kimberly picks on the stuttering Sam that Maggie is able to forget her own fears. And indignant and determined, she summons up the courage to defend her pal and show everyone what she can really do.

The author of No Frogs for Dinner and So Long, Stinky Queen, Frieda Wishinsky addresses an all-too-common fear that primary students face, and gives it a delightful twist that will have early readers howling and turning the pages to find out what happens next. Artist Dean Griffiths (Ballerinas Don't Wear Glasses, Fairy) creates, in his feline subjects, a heart melting, all-too-human quality that readers will love. A must-have for all intrepid heroes in the making.

K-Gr 2-Maggie perseveres through what is one of children's greatest fears-freezing up in front of their classmates. The little cat wishes herself whisked away to Mars, among other things, when she finds herself unable to read in front of her class. Kimberly is a surly gray Persian who eagerly volunteers and succeeds in reading aloud. Meanwhile, Maggie imagines a series of adverse events like her nemesis being dumped into a dungeon by a troll. Finally, a stuttering classmate helps the kitten face her fear and find the confidence she needs. Children will understand the juxtaposition made between Maggie imagining herself magically transported from the situation and wishing for something mean to happen to Kimberly. The soft-hued pastel illustrations add quietness and imagination to the story. The white backgrounds focus attention directly on each image, enabling readers to notice the felines' great facial expressions. This title will reassure independent readers who may find themselves in a similar predicament.-Linda M. Kenton, San Rafael Public Library, CA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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