What Parents Should Know
Marshall's artwork enriches the humor of the text. The
situation is very appealing to kids.
Common Sense Media Review
One piece of ridiculousness is piled upon another, like
kindling, until readers spontaneously burst into laughter. The
scene where Viola Swamp, sporting a Miss Nelson mask, confounds
the dimwitted Mr. Blandsworth is priceless.
Marshall gets it oh-so right with his joyously silly, expressive pen-and-wash artwork. Readers can feel the glee coming off the page when the kids realize they have pulled a fast one on Mr. Blandsworth, and the marvelous Miss Nelson is like a Buddha in her serenity and wisdom.
This story cracked up a group of five-year-olds--who have not yet spent a day in kindergarten ---though there was a pause in their laughter every time a new shadow appeared behind the pane of frosted glass in the classroom door. Who's coming to substitute for Miss Nelson? Yikes!
The sequel is Miss Nelson Has a Field Day. Another book by the Allard and Marshall team is The Stupids Have a Ball.
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