School Play

Of all the roles in the school play, Yoko can't believe the one she gets stuck with. Timothy is a toothbrush, Doris is dental floss, and Claude is the dentist. Frank even gets to be a Caramel Clump Chocolate Bar. But Yoko? Yoko is a cavity. "Surely the cavity does something interesting," reassures her mother when she hears the gloomy news. "No," says Yoko. "The cavity just sits there." But while Claude whines about not being permitted to use his dad's power tools in the production, Yoko gets to thinking, and on the night of the play, guess who is the surprise star? In her Yoko and Friends books, award-winning author-illustrator Rosemary Wells has created an easy-to-read series about the "nitty-gritty of elementary school," which includes everything from bullies to germs to separating from Mom. The School Play shows young readers how a positive attitude (even in the face of disappointment) and some clever scheming can save the day--even bring a little fame and fortune (OK, maybe not fortune). Don't miss any of Wells's other celebrated books featuring cherubic kitties, raccoons, puppies, and rabbits, including Yoko, Emily's First 100 Days of School, and Max's Bedtime. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter