Customer Reviews

The Magical Ms. Plum

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Oh, magical grown-ups. You never get old. There is a long and strong tradition of grown-ups with extraordinary powers helping (or hindering) their young charges in the annals of children's literature. Your Mrs. Piggle-Wiggles. Your Mary Poppins. Your Ms. Frizzles. Your Younguncles, even. They're usually nannies or caretakers, but once in a while you get a teacher thrown into the mix. When someone described the plot of the early chapter book "Magical Ms. Plum" to me, though, I raised a skeptical eyebrow. They said, "Three words: Magical. Supply. Closet." Oh ho? Then they said two more words. "Bonny Becker." Ah. Well that's all right then. Bonny Becker is one of my favorite writers for kids today. Whether it is her delightful "Holbrook: A Lizard's Tale" or the charming future picture book classic, "A Visitor for Bear", this is a woman who has a way with words and always seems to know which ones to use.

Maybe she says it every year and maybe she doesn't but when Ms. Plum says that this new group of third graders will be her best class yet, you are inclined to believe her. As it happens, the kids are excited too. Each year children come out of Ms. Plum's class with secret smiles, and everyone wants to know what the big deal is. As it happens, the answer comes every time a student is asked to get something out of the classroom supply closet. Tashala goes in and comes out with a tiny horse that indirectly teaches her not to be a snob to her classmates. Messy Darma goes in and comes out with a pack of squirrels that are at her beck and call, much to the admiration of her classmates. Only Carlos is never selected to go in, and the fact that Ms. Plum doesn't recognize his superior intelligence eats away at him until he gets the very animal he deserves, but not one he expects. Yes, every year Ms. Plum says that this will be her best class ever. And every year, in a way, it's true.

They're not the usual problems and solutions, these little stories. Some are predictable, that's true. There's the pessimist, the kid who doesn't speak English well, and the interrupter. But the story of Emiko, a girl who sees everything through rose-colored glasses, is a little more out of the ordinary. Hers is not a huge problem, after all, but it can be dangerous to only see the good side of things, rather than their potential dangers. It's a complicated lesson for kids, but Becker deals deftly with it. There's also a very interesting chapter where Ms. Plum gets something out of the supply closet herself, and finds herself saddled with an attention-seeking peacock. It's an interesting choice on Becker's part. A kind of acknowledgment to the child readers that sometimes even adults have ways in which they could improve. That's my interpretation of the chapter, anyway. I suspect that if you read it to kids they might come up with some entirely different reasons for why Ms. Plum got a peacock. Whatever the case, I liked it too because you almost never get to see Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle or Ms. Frizzle show any weaknesses in their own stories. Becker has created a very modern and complex look at an old, once simple theme.

It's a small thing, but one plot element I like about this book is that Ms. Plum's class is of third graders. Sometimes I feel like third graders get short shrift in literature while the fourth graders hog all the glory. After all, it's called "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" not "Tales of a Third Grade Nothing". "Fourth Grade Rats" not "Third Grade Rats". So when it became clear that Ms. Plum specializes in third graders, I was instantly intrigued. At last! Something for them.

There's not much to find fault with here, but I admit that I was a little shocked at how abruptly "Magical Ms. Plum" ended. One minutes we're hearing about Nadia and the little cat that purrs away her worries, and then suddenly the text is italicized and we're getting half a page of conclusion to the entire book. Maybe it wouldn't have felt quite so out of the blue if the Nadia storyline had wrapped up all the others, but really it didn't have much to do with them. The Carlos storyline would have made more sense, really. Then again, Ms. Plum says at the end of the Carlos story that "There's always another chance at the closet for everyone," and while he never seems to get that chance, you certainly couldn't make this the final story with that sentence in it. Tis a puzzlement.

Now let's talk about Amy Portnoy for a moment. You can certainly write an early chapter book like this one without including any pictures, but I wouldn't advise it. From what I have been able to determine, this is Ms. Portnoy's first children's book, though you'd never know it to look at it. The artist makes use of a loose pen-and-ink style that complements the story very well indeed. To that end, her work is not too dissimilar from that of Ms. Becker's previous chapter book collaborator Abby Carter. Maybe Ms. Becker's books just lend themselves to thin pen-and-inks. Dunno.

Teachers are often looking for good books to read aloud in class. Sure, you could read "Stuart Little" for the tenth straight year in a row, but wouldn't your third graders like something new as well? Here you go then. Your wishes have been answered, since the chapters in this book are just the right length to read one per day for twelve days, as needs be. Failing that, kids will enjoy reading about the kids in Ms. Plum's class on their own. It must be exceedingly hard to write a book containing little stories about self-improvement without sounding preachy or didactic. The strange thing about "Magical Ms. Plum" is that it comes off as just fun storytelling, with lessons to be learned that require a bit of thought and interpretation. It's a good book for kids who are thinkers, and even better for book discussion. A worthy addition to a popular genre and a heckuva nice book.

Ages 7-10.

I grew up on the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books so it was with sheer joy that I read The Magical Ms. Plum. The students in Ms. Plum's classroom love their teacher and her supply cupboard full of surprises. What kid wouldn't like to be sent to fetch some construction paper and return with a miniature horse instead? A live miniature horse! The encounters in the closet are not simply fantastic and fun, each one seems to be just the ticket for that day's helper.

Fans of Betty Birney's Humphrey books will be transfixed by The Magical Ms. Plum!

Indeed...it's true that everyone wants to be in Ms. Plum's class. I especially would have loved to have been in such a magical classroom as a child. This is most certainly a children's book, which is not usually a book that I review and recommend, but upon seeing the title, I knew it would be the kind of book that a lot of people would enjoy. I feel like it should be added to the list of great children's books that become classic over time, like Where the Wild Things Are and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

Even for adults, it's an interesting allegory that can give some insight into who you were as a child and who you've become as an adult. Honestly, I kind of wish that there was a magical Ms. Plum right now that would show me some of my personal character flaws in order to help me figure out how to right them. I recommend this book to children, parents and teachers.

-Lindsey Miller, [...]

The Magical Ms. Plum is in a class all its own -- an A+ story that casts a mystical spell with its flawless, lyrical writing. There's a magical quality to this book that makes me want to read it again, and to read it aloud, just for the way it makes me feel. The music and magic of the words alone are worth the price of admission.

Each brilliant little episode, each trip to the magical supply closet, is so unique and fresh it bursts with energy. The children in Ms. Plum's class (not to mention the enigmatic Ms. Plum herself), are brought to life in wonderful, memorable ways.

One of the things I love is that it's not at all preachy. The kids are in on the game, so to speak. They understand that there's a reason for each trip to Ms. Plum's supply closet that will be specific to something one of them needs to understand or that the students need to understand about their classmate. This is no sly wink to adults. Bonny Becker shows total respect for the children in Ms. Plum's third grade class and the children who read her book.

There's nothing predictable about the things that happen at Springtime Elementary except for the promise of utter delight in each moment, each turn of phrase and pleasure that will linger long after the story ends (or does it?). Young readers deserve the best, and you can't get any better than Bonny Becker and The Magical Ms. Plum. Genius.

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Ms. Plum is the ideal teacher and reminds me a bit of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle; both know what is best for children, even if the child doesn't realize it himself.

Ms. Plum is pure magic and her supply closet is even more spectacular. Each child who enters comes out with an animal companion that somehow diagnoses and treats that particular child's challenge (shyness, aggression, etc...). A stubborn donkey or mischievous monkey help the child work through their challenge and make for a very interesting classroom experience. Caution: you may find your child begging to visit some of your closets in the hopes that a magical furry creature will appear. This book is going to be a family favorite. There are lots of laughs and some great, positive messages throughout the book.

THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM
BONNY BECKER
Magical Middle Grade
Knopf

Rating: 4 Enchantments

To end up in Ms. Plum's third grade class is a real privilege as there's something magical about what happens in her classroom. And funny enough, none of her students are able to talk about it, even if they want to. Ms. Plum's supply closet hosts a magical secret. Whatever lesson a child seems to need to learn is taught by whatever animal follows them out of the closet. No one knows what's going to come out of there next, but one thing is for sure, almost everyone in class wants their turn.

I really enjoyed THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM. Every chapter is like a mini story all on its own, featuring a different student in her class. Everyone in Ms. Plum's class learns a lesson by the end of the school year, including Ms. Plum herself, which was one of my favorite chapters of the book. Though this can be a fairly fast read, it doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the book and the lessons that the characters learned. I really liked Ms. Plum and my favorite student had to be Darla. Out of the animals who emerged from the supply closet, it's hard to choose a favorite. The monkeys were great, the squirrels and I loved the peacock for Ms. Plum. I have to say that Ms. Plum and the peacock was definitely my favorite scene in the book, simply because you didn't expect anything to come out for the unusual Ms. Plum. The illustrations as well were really great and added a nice touch to the book.

A great read for boys or girls, even reluctant readers are sure to enjoy the magical glimpse into Ms. Plum's world.

Bonny Becker lives with her husband in Seattle, Washington. She hopes kids who read THE MAGICAL MS. PLUM will feel less afraid of making mistakes and will that stumbles are a part of how everyone grows and figures things out. Visit her online at [...]

Lisa
Enchanting Reviews
September 2009

How do you know it's a good book? Here's one way to tell: after reading a few chapters for family story time, I catch somebody sneak-reading ahead.

That's this book.

I've read people's reviews comparing this to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (another magical woman)... I think it's also close to Mary Poppins. Ms. Plum plays it straight and doesn't always rely on Magic.

Everybody wants to be in Ms. Plum's class. Even me! I'd like the squirrel-manicure-and-candy treatment, please.

The reading level seems to be about third grade -- and that's the grade Ms. Plum teaches. (It doesn't often work out like that in juvenile fiction.) Great, fun, and funny book. Good characters and action. Boys love it!

No bad language. A few instances of "poop." No objections here. I wish there were a sequel...

This is a wonderful book. Inventive, fun, interesting. Each chapter is much like a stand-alone short story, which is so satisfying for children hearing one chapter at a time.

Working in an elementary school, I have a chance to see the power of a good teacher to make a difference in the lives of his/her students. While I too try to make a difference, I only see each class once a week, so except for the avid readers who I see almost every day, I often don't know all the challenges that students struggle with, both personal and familial.

This light read involves students facing up to and learning from their weaknesses through the use of a magical closet and its magical inhabitants. I wish I had such a closet, sigh. I appreciated that it wasn't just the students who learned from the animals, but also Ms. Plum. As a teacher, I feel it is important to keep learning every day. I plan to use this book with my third grade classes as a discussion starter about behavior and how we can help each other be better.