The Blabber Report [Hardcover]

True Kelley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2007 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Blabber Mouse loves to talk. But sitting still and finishing projects? He’s not so good at that. One day Blabber’s teacher gives the class a scary assignment: oral book reports. Yikes! All of the mice settle down to work. All of them, that is, except Blabber. Blabber’s busy chatting with JoJo. Or looking out the window. Uh-oh, now he’s searching for his long-lost notes! As Oral Report Day approaches, the lovable little mouse gets more and more nervous. Will he ever figure out how to settle down and turn his talent for talking into a great report?

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Blabber Mouse (2001), a talkative little rodent learns a lesson about classroom gossip. In this follow-up, Blabber Mouse's teacher assigns oral book reports to the class. The students are terrified, including Blabber Mouse, who realizes that an oral report "is not like ordinary talking." He finds lots of ways to help his classmates as they prepare, but he can't face his own assignment, and on the big day, he's unable to deliver his report. Finally, with his classmates' energetic help, he learns to tackle his work, step by step. As in her previous titles, Kelley captures kids' concerns with humor and sensitivity. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations effectively telegraph the students' anxiety and hard work, and they present a reassuring, realistic picture of classroom life in details that are best viewed up close. The specific focus on working through an overwhelming assignment and the messages about reaching out to others make this a natural choice for early-elementary students facing their first big projects. Engberg, Gillian

Review

The talkative star of Blabber Mouse (Dutton, 2001) is back. This time, he and his classmates are assigned oral book reports, and their teacher promises a cheesy-chip cookie party if everyone does a satisfactory job. While his friends diligently select titles and prepare their presentations, Blabber fritters away the time by talking, doodling, telling jokes, and agonizing over his assignment. He makes minimum preparations, but, with the help of his classmates, he successfully delivers a report in the end. The bold, varied cartoon illustrations are appealing and provide drama. The clothing and demeanor of the mouse characters realistically echo students found in a typical classroom. Subtle humor in the illustrations will delight more observant youngsters; some details will be best appreciated during independent reading. Many youngsters will identify with Blabber's terror of public speaking, and the theme of teamwork is strong as his friends rally around him during his presentation. -- School Library Journal

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (July 5, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525478094
• ISBN-13: 978-0525478096
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,250,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

True Kelley has illustrated many children's books, including Hazel Nutt, Mad Scientist, winner of the Golden Duck Award for the best children's science-fiction illustrated book of the year, written by David Elliott. School Lunch is her first solo venture for Holiday House. She lives in New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2* Blabber Report Gets an A!, March 12, 2008

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Blabber Report (Hardcover)

Blabber Mouse has a runaway mouth. He's also a jokester, a doodler, and a wiggler in school. He's a very active and noticeable student in Mrs. Numley's room, but he is silenced at the prospect of giving an oral report. (By the way, he's never identified as someone who has ADD --Attention Deficit Disorder--either with or without hyuperactivity.) While Blabber has abn almost Ali-like ability for improv rhyme (talking about the report, he bluffs, "No prob, Bob! It's a breeze, Louise! No worry-ah, Gloria!") he has a history of reports gone bad: "The too-short short story" and the "too-long haiku poem" among them! He has problems deciding on his topic, and, like his classmates, he wishes they could skip the oral reports and eat the Mrs. Numley's cookies promised for a good class effort.

When it's his turn for the report, Blabber goes blank, even though he had read his book four times the previous summer! In a wonderful montage against a black background, Blabber looks up, looks down, blinks, giggles, jiggles, and turns red, then white, then green.

"'Thank you, Blabber,' said Mrs. Numley. 'You tried. You can try again later.' Blabber's heart sank. Later would be even worse! He had let everyone down. And now he hated his favorite book."

Author/illustrator True Kelley skillfully captures the variety of students and range of emotions encountered in 4th or 5th grade classroom. The pictures delightfully highlight and enhance her story. We see the students' anxiety, contradicted only by the self-assured confidence of the "annoyingly ready" Joan, who does her report on Volume "J-K-L' of the encyclopedia! Young readers will laugh with recognition at Mrs. Numley's somewhat conflicting teacher roles: The somewhat stern Mrs. Numley (there's a great drawing of the teacher giving "The Look" with an arrowed so labeled pointing at her face), and the warm Mrs. Numley, who gives Blabber a second chance.

The resolution is useful, albeit a bit too saccharine. Blabber gets oral report hints from the other students (all of whom, except Lisa, had their own difficulties with the report--apparently it's easier to give hints than to perform them!). The well-meaning mouse kids suggest that Blabber practice in front of a mirror, and use pictures, note cards, and sticky notes. These work well in rehearsal, but the next day Blabber forgets to bring his notes! Luckily for the A-for-Effort Blabber, his classmates have already made signs that repeat some of the teacher's outline of required contents (e.g., "Tell me something I don't know," and "Why did you pick it?").

While the conclusion is more metaphor than realism, the lessons and examples are valuable ones: Everyone (well, except for the "Joan's" out there) faces difficulties on oral reports, friends can offer emotional support and concrete tips; persistence pays off. I like how Ms. Kelley "gets" the elementary school experience, and the heightened emotions of the students. Her varied, surprising use of color, and her command of motion and facial expression are as engaging as her well-written and humorous story.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rewarding story for kids who have trouble sticking to their homework!, October 18, 2007

By 

Nik "Geek and all around good guy" (N. Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Blabber Report (Hardcover)

A WONDERFUL story about a smart, excitable kid-mouse who overcomes his fears with the help of his friends. It's the most inspirational book for ADHD kids I've ever seen. I just love how Blabber is portrayed as a really nice, smart, mouse-kid who is just a little TOO motivated to help and skip from task to task. Great stuff, and wonderful drawings as well. I highly recommend it!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool in School, October 3, 2007

By 

J. Carothers (Ludington, Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Blabber Report (Hardcover)

[[ASIN:05 25478094 The Blabber Report]] FIVE STARS
All kids have to go to school, and school holds terrors that make the evening news look paltry. This funny book is the story of a blabbermouth who becomes frozen with fright at having to do an oral report. How he dreads his ordeal, and how he gets through it, is the plot. Half the gags are in the pictures, where funny details abound to be found. The zany realism of the illustrations make the book great to read to little kids and for bigger ones, like third-graders to enjoy on their own. And it stands up to lots of repeat readings. Highly recommended!