Maniac Monkeys on Magnolia Street [Hardcover]

Angela Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1998 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Welcome to Magnolia Street, where Charlie has just moved into her new home. It isn't long before Charlie's exploring, meeting all of her new neighbors, and getting herself into trouble. Her adventures with her bound-to-be best friend Billy--tricking Charlie's older brother, making a racket on a bus trip to the museum, or digging up a box of buried treasure--make even ordinary exciting. This collection of interrelated short stories is a true delight, perfect for newly emerging independent readers. Both girls and boys will cheer for this spunky girl as she takes on Magnolia Street and blossoms day by day.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Johnson (Toning the Sweep) once again evokes a strong sense of place with this breezy, slice-of-life chapter book. Loosely structuring the volume as a series of vignettes, the author recounts a child's exploration of her new neighborhood. Any homesickness Charlie (Charlene) feels for Monroe Street and her old friends there quickly disappears when Billy, a boy on roller skates, stops by her house to share a plate of cookies. ("[He] would be my best friend in the whole world. But I don't know that yet, though.") Charlie and Billy, soon an inseparable duo, hunt down "maniac monkeys" (seen only by Charlie's 12-year-old brother), view Mr. Pinkton's remarkable collection of fish, marvel at the lifelike sculptures sitting in Miss Marcia's yard and discover buried treasure in a vacant lot. Youngsters will find Magnolia Street to be a comforting refuge where summer afternoons are savored at a leisurely pace and neighbors always have time for a friendly chat. Demonstrating how the imagination can transform day-to-day observations into something magical, this satisfying novel may spur readers to take a closer look at their own familiar surroundings. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-10.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?Charlie narrates seven stories that take place during her family's first summer on Magnolia Street. Charlie is mischievous and creative and she finds her match in Billy, who quickly becomes her best friend. They are two of a kind and thus spend quite a bit of time grounded on their separate porches. But they do manage a few adventures. In the title story, they play a practical joke on Charlie's older brother. This introduction to the main characters and the people in the neighborhood is the best of the bunch with a strong plot and a great platform for the two friends to bond and show off their cleverness. The stories that follow have less action but Charlie's antics will keep readers' interest. The realistic dialogue will make this comfortable reading for kids, though the few grammatical informalities ("Me and Billy") are unnecessary. Black-and-white sketches appear throughout this entertaining, if not gripping, beginning chapter book.?Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 97 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (December 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067989053X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679890539
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,564,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Angela Johnson is the author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book When I Am Old with You; as well as A Sweet Smell of Roses, illustrated by Eric Velasquez; Just Like Josh Gibson, illustrated by Beth Peck; and I Dream of Trains, which was also illustrated by Loren Long. She has won three Coretta Scott King Awards, one each for her novels Heaven, Toning the Sweep, and The First Part Last. In recognition of her outstanding talent, Angela was named a 2003 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Kent, Ohio.