Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool - Hardcover

Willis, Jeanne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1783442026 ISBN 13: 9781783442027

Publisher: Andersen Press, 2016

Synopsis

The most beautiful girl in the whole of the school is Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool—but Lucinda Belinda feels it is her duty to guide all her friends in the subject of beauty. Lucinda becomes the scourge of family and friends, criticizing big bottoms and moustaches (especially her grandma's) until everyone avoids her. So when Lucinda meets a monster in the forest, she makes it her mission to make over this scary creature. Unfortunately changing its outside does not change what's inside—as Lucinda Belinda discovers!

About this title

About the Author

Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross are the author-illustrator team of numerous books, including Caterpillar Dreams, Daft Bat, Old Dog, Shhh!, and the Smarties Book Prize–winner Tadpole's Promise.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Once again, the creative minds of Willis and Ross have delivered a finely tuned, amusing story with an important message for kids. Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool is one of those girls who knows she is perfectly primped and believes that everyone else will benefit from her wisdom. So she files nails, tapes back ears, and, in general, gives her advice. Only, as the pictures reveal, it is unwanted, and after a while, people start to avoid her. Still, she plows on, determined "to make the whole world a more beautiful place." Even when she meets a big, blue, hairy, scary monster—is she deterred? No. She gives it a makeover, believing that this will transform it both inside and out. It is at this point that the bubbly tone pays off. Readers won't see this darkly humorous ending coming, and because of this, its message is driven home. Appearance isn't everything, and you certainly shouldn't judge someone's character on looks alone. Willis and Ross are at the top of their game; the pace is easygoing, the use of space fits the story, appropriate words are emphasized with a different font, the rhyme is excellent, and Ross's style is snazzy. Every element coalesces into a strong whole, great for both larger group settings and more intimate ones. VERDICT An appealing read-aloud for grade school children, with a delicious message about the inner vs. outer self.-Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ont., Canada

About this edition

• Publisher: Andersen Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1783442026
• ISBN 13: 9781783442027
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Ross Tony