Beany (Not Beanhead) and the Magic Crystal - Hardcover

Wojciechowski, Susan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763600520 ISBN 13: 9780763600525

Publisher: Candlewick, 1997

Synopsis

While out shopping with her mother, Beany stumbles upon a magic crystal, but after learning that the crystal will only grant one wish, she has to be very careful to pick the absolute perfect thing.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 2-4?In this sequel to Don't Call Me Beanhead (Candlewick, 1994), Bernice Lorraine Sherwin-Hendricks (Beany for short) discovers something unique?a crystal from an old chandelier that might be magic and good for one wish. She almost uses the wish several times before finally deciding to use the crystal to guarantee a perfect birthday party. When she pops in on her elderly next-door neighbor to borrow tomato paste for the party spaghetti, she learns that this day would've been Mrs. Kasper and her late husband's 53rd wedding anniversary. Beany promptly gives her the crystal to help her learn to be happy without him and invites her to the party. After the celebration is a big success, Beany knows that the crystal really is magic. The characters are nicely drawn and the plot moves along briskly. Told from Beany's point of view, the story is filled with gentle humor. The black-ink sketches and page-turning text give a delightful view of the world through a child's eyes.?Christina Dorr, Calcium Primary School, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Beany--Bernice Lorraine Sherwin-Hendricks, the heroine from Don't Call Me Beanhead (1994)--is back. This time, Beany has a magic crystal that she believes holds one wish. Her dilemma is what to wish for. Should she use it to get the Sharing and Caring loving cup? Or to find the lost class hamsters? In five hilarious chapters--one of which recalls the plot of Jake Wolf's Daddy, Could I Have an Elephant? (1996) - -Wojciechowski takes familiar circumstances (getting lost, school pictures, and birthday parties) and shows them from a Beany's-eye view. Beany is the girl everyone wants for a friend: She's likable and well-intentioned without being a goody-goody. Her bossy best friend's makeover of Beany for school pictures, involving hair rollers, white magic marker, and duct tape, is fresh and funny, and puts Beany into the very good company of Ramona, Fudge, and Anastasia. Natti's black- and-white illustrations are right on target; readers will use their own magic crystals to wish Beany back again. (Fiction. 6-10) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 2^-4. A saleswoman gives Beany a crystal from a chandelier and advises her that it may be a "wishing one." Taking this to heart, Beany continually imagines and contemplates the perfect wish--her BIG wish! Should she use her only wish to find her class' escaped and missing hamsters? Or to change her frizzy permed hair back to straight hair? Putting material concerns aside, Beany chooses her wish wisely in the touching conclusion to this light-hearted tale. Fans of characters in Cleary's and Hurwitz's novels will be pleased to meet Beany. Black-and-white line drawings are scattered throughout. April Judge

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763600520
• ISBN 13: 9780763600525
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Natti Susanna
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 96