The Fixits - Hardcover

Mazer, Anne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786802138 ISBN 13: 9780786802135

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1999

Synopsis

After Michael and Augusta break their mother's favorite plate, they call the Fixits, who destroy just about everything they touch, in a wild romp about how a simple problem becomes an outrageous disaster.

About this title

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 2After two siblings break their mothers favorite plate, the friendly but inept Fixits arrive. The klutzy handymens attempts at repair result in the utter destruction of the house. The boy continually frets while his younger sister and pet hound gleefully participate in the escalating disaster, until the childrens mother returns home and calmly says, Oh, accidents happen. The staccato text detracts from the storys flow and it is often difficult to identify which character is speaking. However, the whimsically detailed watercolors exude fun and offer the promise of many new discoveries over repeated viewing. Images such as that of a commode dangling from a loose board and spouting like a fountain are guaranteed to elicit peals of laughter.Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

As confident as they are klutzy, Ed and Tom Fixit arrive on the scene to help out two children who broke their mother's favorite plate. Dropping the plate and gluing the broom to the floor are just the beginning: soon the Fixits have reduced the entire house to rubble. Mazer (The Oxboy) skillfully counterpoints the increasingly ludicrous disasters and the Fixits' consistently blithe reaction: "Accidents happen. We can fix it." Readers will likely empathize with both the anxious narrator and his gleeful younger sisterAwho, when the roof falls in, exults, "I can fly my kite in the living room!" Meisel (Engine, Engine, Number Nine) packs his animated artwork with funny touches, such as Tom Fixit's puzzled scrutiny of a wrench and the dog dancing around with an umbrella as a pipe spurts. This boisterous book will have readers wincing and giggling by turns. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4^-8. It's not entirely clear what's going on at first, but with a little help from a grownup, children will go on to enjoy this wacky, energetic story. Augusta and her brother have just cracked their mother's favorite plate. How glad they are when the Fixits, Tom and Ed, show up at the door, reassuring them that "Accidents happen. We can fix it." Not so fast. Although the Fixits are affable and resourceful, they break everything in sight. The humor comes full circle when Mom comes home--and barely even notices. Spunky watercolor and pen-and-ink cartoon artwork depicts the widening circle of destruction, including lots of inventive extras, not the least of which are the children's very different responses to what's going on. Stephanie Zvirin

Edition details

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786802138
• ISBN 13: 9780786802135
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Meisel Paul
• Number of pages: 24