Hailey Twitch and the Great Teacher Switch

October 15, 2010

The cantankerous Mr. Frisk doesn't stand a chance against precocious Hailey Twitch and her impish fairy Maybelle. Both aspire to befriend their elderly neighbor for personal gain; Hailey's efforts intensify as she enlists the seasoned actor as director in their school play. While the child's wacky attempts at friendship prove disastrous—Mr. Frisk does not appreciate his morning breakfast doused in syrup and left soaking in raw egg—her off-base efforts to apologize prove more appalling still. The dynamic between the lively youngster and her strong-willed sprite takes center stage, and Beaky's drawings make the most of the situational humor. Hailey's child-centered perceptions remain spot-on, combining laugh-out-loud moments with gentle insight. "But I know deep down in my heart that it is not true. Cereal is the easy way out." This winning series depicts one youngster's balancing act between her sweet and spunky sides and provides a welcome resource for kids waiting for the next Clementine or Moxy Maxwell. (Fantasy. 6-9)

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February 15, 2011
Grades 2-4 Fresh off of Hailey Twitch Is Not a Snitch (2010), Hailey and her mischievous sprite, Maybelle, are back for another adventure. For Maybelle to get her magic back (she lost it because she wasnt having fun), she has to make a new friend. The timing of a cranky, new ex-actor moving into the neighborhood and the second-grade class play is perfect for Hailey to set the stage for success. Will she save the play? Will Maybelle find a new friend? Of coursethere has to be a next book, right? Black-and-white drawings bolster the situational humor.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)