Review by New York Times Review
FROM AMELIA BEDELIA'S cheery misinterpretations to "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" and its impertinent bird hoping against hope for the impossible, delusions fuel a certain stripe of hero. Early chapter books - and here we have three by much-lauded children's book authors - offer the perfect bridge between the freewheeling dreams of picture books and the serious narratives of longer fiction. These characters come by their delusions honestly and do not force the issue. And the more we indulge in their scattershot dreams, the more we want to believe in them too. In the case of "The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure," by Doreen Cronin and the illustrator Kevin Cornell (the creators of the J.J. Tully Mystery series), a world-weary retired search-and-rescue dog introduces us to four little troublemakers: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy and Sweetie may look like baby chicks, but they have ambitions far beyond mere scratching and pecking. With dialogue straight out of a '40s film noir, they take on the case of a squirrel who has seen something "big and scary." After some interrogation it emerges that the squirrel has seen something large, circular and noisy (in the squirrel's own words, "it interrupted the atmosphere"). If a chicken can rush to a conclusion a chicken will rush to a conclusion, and these chickens are immediately convinced that a chicken-stealing U.F.O. is in their midst and that it's up to them to take it down. Needless to say, the supposed U.F.O. is a mere barbecue grill, and the chicks' efforts to destroy it ramp up the tale to maximum amusing chaos. Cornell's illustrations give life to the chicks and their individual personalities. Each one pursues his or her own agenda, though they are often united in a common cause. Like four small, fuzzy, yellow Don Quixotes, they see giants in windmills or, in this case, aliens in backyard grills. Don Quixote also certainly comes to mind in the case of Leroy Ninker in "Leroy Ninker Saddles Up," by the Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo, with illustrations by Chris Van Dusen. (The two collaborated on the Mercy Watson series.) Leroy may harbor delusions of grandeur, but they are sweeter, softer yearnings than the chickens'. Leroy isn't having a midlife crisis. He's having a life crisis. Employed at the concession stand of the Bijou Drive-In Theater, Leroy dreams of becoming a cowboy. When Beatrice the ticket seller points out that he lacks the requisite horse, he sets out to procure one immediately. He imagines acquiring an impressive creature he can call "Tornado." What he gets is Maybelline, an old, four-toothed equine who comes with her own set of rules. It's love at first sight. DiCamillo, who is also national ambassador for young people's literature, has always been at her best when dwelling on the good and the bad in relationships between humans and animals, and Van Dusen knows precisely how best to present Leroy to us. Seen here, the incipient cowboy is short and needle-nosed, but displaying that gleam you find only in the eyes of people pursuing their desires. When Maybelline disappears because of his negligence, he must take his fate into his own hands and then he must "wrestle it to the ground." Leroy's possible delusions instead transform him into a man honestly living his dream. We can laugh at how he goes about fulfilling it, but if he's perfectly content at the end of the day, isn't the laugh really on us? DIGBY O'DAY OF "Digby O'Day in the Fast Lane" has a dream as well, but it's less grand than the desire to live life on the range. Possessing a car that he loves just as much as Leroy loves Maybelline, Digby and his best friend, Percy, intend to win the local All-Day Race from Didsworth to Dodsworth. His rival, a saucy little minx named Lou Ella, has the audacity to purchase a new car every year and to mock Digby for sticking with his own beloved jalopy. With permission to go "by any route you choose," what follows is an amusing adventure through the countryside, ending with a lovely pot of tea. It is a very British affair. Digby's tale attempts an exciting feel but unfortunately lacks much in the way of verve. Even the art by Clara Vulliamy (daughter of its author, the beloved English children's book writer and illustrator Shirley Hughes) stays neatly contained within the walls of the story. Both "The Chicken Squad" and "Leroy Ninker" are spinoffs from other popular series, yet both feel as though they are boldly striking out in new directions. Digby, in contrast, meanders about pleasantly, disinclined to do much that would strike a reader as the least bit unexpected. It's charming, but what Digby lacks is the passion that comes with doing what you love. It's the passion that spurs the chickens on to attack backyard equipment while camouflaged in grass clippings. The passion that inspires Leroy to charge through his neighborhood without hat or lasso in his slippery socks to find his missing horse. The passion that will encourage reluctant readers and early readers to keep turning those pages. Pages that will, in turn, help them to create more dreams than delusions, we hope. BETSY BIRD is a librarian and the author of the picture book "Giant Dance Party." She is a co-author of "Wild Things! Acts of Mischief in Children's Literature," published this month.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [September 7, 2014]
Review by Booklist Review
Reformed robber and would-be cowboy Leroy Ninker (last seen in the Mercy Watson books) lassos his own series. Leroy spends his nights working the drive-in concession stand, dreaming of 10-gallon hats and western boots. Ticket seller Beatrice Leapaleoni convinces him to take fate in your hands and wrestle it to the ground, so he adopts a horse from Patty LeMarque. Patty's instructions on Maybelline's care are to the point: sweet-talk her, feed her a lot of grub, and never leave her alone. The first two instructions go well (Leroy spouts poeticals, and Maybelline loves his spaghetti), but his errand to fetch an umbrella takes longer than expected, and the horse wanders off. Predictably, she ends up at Deckawoo Drive for a happy reunion featuring familiar friends and a lot of buttered toast. DiCamillo's use of inventive and colorful language and Van Dusen's stylized gouache illustrations make this story click. Give this to graduates of the earlier series looking for a bit more of a challenge.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Leroy Ninker, the diminutive aspiring cowboy last seen trying to steal a toaster from the Watson household in Mercy Watson Fights Crime (2006), gets his own starring vehicle in this kickoff to a spinoff series, Tales from Deckawoo Drive, featuring characters from DiCamillo's books about the toast-loving pig Mercy. His thieving days behind him, Leroy works concessions at the Bijou Drive-In Theater and wishes he could ride into the sunset like the cowboys in Wednesday night's Western double feature. Leroy's boots, hat, and lasso can only take him so far-he needs a horse. His coworker Beatrice points him in the right direction, and Leroy finds his steed in a well-traveled horse named Maybelline. DiCamillo effortlessly slips back into the comfortable rhythms of Mercy's world, infusing every chapter with subdued wit, warmth, and heart. Van Dusen matches the text stride-for-stride, delivering caricatured spot art and full-page scenes of the Pinocchioesque Leroy and the four-toothed, spaghetti-loving Maybelline, who Leroy comes to consider "the most splendiferous horse in all of creation." Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Fans of Mercy Watson will delight in meeting Maybelline, a horse who loves to hear the melody of pretty words, likes the company of others, and enjoys spaghetti noodles. Leroy Ninker is a concession stand worker at the local drive-in movie theater with dreams of being a real-life cowboy. One day-"Yippie-i-oh"-he discovers a horse for sale. Leroy ends up choosing Maybelline for his mount. Adventure ensues as Leroy must learn how to ride her, find her food and shelter, and cure her fear of rain. Van Dusen's black-and-white cartoon pictures provide a lighthearted humor that makes the book a good choice for transitioning readers. Character driven, this fast-paced story is sure to please. A fun new edition to the cast and crew of "Mercy Watson" (Candlewick).-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Leroy Ninker, the "reformed thief" from this team's Mercy Watson books, still makes ends meet serving popcorn at the Bijou Drive-In Theater but dreams of being a cowboy. Sporting a cowboy hat, lasso, and boots, he watches raptly the Wednesday night Western double-feature but makes little progress otherwise. Then he receives some advice from a colleague: "Every cowboy needs a horse." After purchasing "old but good" and "very exceptionally cheap" Maybelline and inspecting her hooves and teeth (and finding four of each), Leroy throws himself into horse-ownership completely. Unfortunately, acquiring a horse and keeping one turn out to be two different challenges, but Leroy rises to the occasion in his own way, whispering sweet nothings into Maybelline's ear and preparing pot after pot of spaghetti for her. Spot art, full-page art, and double-page spreads with Van Dusen's characteristic shiny-faced characters infuse the plot with extra energy and expression. Part cowboy story and part pet love story, this multi-layered tale beautifully balances comically exaggerated details and true spirit. Mercy Watson fans will enjoy being back in the saddle in this slightly more advanced spin-off. julie roach (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Leroy Ninker dreams of being an honest-to-goodness cowboy as he watches Western movies while working at the concession stand at the drive-in theater.He has some of the lingo down pat, and he knows he will need boots, a hat and a lasso. But his co-worker points out that he is missing the most important element of all: a horse. Providentially, there is a horse for sale. Though she is swaybacked and almost toothless, it is love at first sight when Leroy sees Maybelline. Leroy is given some unusual instructions; he must sweet-talk and compliment the horse, feed her plenty of grub and never leave her alone for more than a few moments. So there he is with a horse that wont fit through his door, gobbles up potfuls of spaghetti and needs constant attention. Adventures and misadventures abound, and both horse and cowboy become lost in a scary storm. But with a little help from some old friends who have appeared in the author-illustrator teams earlier works, it all comes together with the expected happy ending. DiCamillos quirky, eccentric characters speak in flowery sentiments and employ charming wordplay. Along with Van Dusens well-matched illustrations, theres a sweet, retro innocence reminiscent of McCloskeys classic Homer Price. Despite the old-fashioned accent, the absurdities will easily appeal to a modern audience.Filled with love and kindness and glorious sweet-talk: Yippee-i-oh. (Fiction. 6-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
