Mrs. Morgan's Lawn [Paperback]

Barney Saltzberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1998 | Grade Level: K and up

Everytime the little boy accidentally kicks a ball into mean old Mrs. Morgan'as front lawn, she keeps it. And she won't return them, even when she is politely asked. When Mrs. Morgan is too sick to tend her lawn, however, it is her young neighbor and his rake to the rescue. A refreshing tale about friendship between young and old. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Snazzy pictures in delectable springtime hues fortify an easily anticipated story line. Mrs. Morgan is the neighborhood crank: "Every time a ball lands on her lawn, she keeps it," says the narrator. "What does she do with them all?" he asks as an illustration pictures Mrs. Morgan decked out in a pointy witch's hat, stirring a caldron of lost toys by the light of a crescent moon. Before he declares the inevitable truce with Mrs. Morgan, he is certain she was "born mean"--and here Saltzberg shows us a bespectacled baby in a pram, pulling the stuffing out of a teddy bear. Throughout, Mrs. Morgan's pupils eerily float in her triangular glasses, and her house seems to sag and sway--quirky touches sure to amuse Saltzberg's audience. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. Most readers will instantly recognize Mrs. Morgan. She's the neighbor who was "born mean," the silent confiscator of errant balls, the vigilant guardian of the perfect lawn. A young everyman tells of his landmark encounter with this intimidating lady after his favorite purple soccer ball makes an unlucky landing directly in Mrs. Morgan's arms. Reluctant to follow his parents' advice and simply ask for the ball's return, the boy imagines all manner of trickery to retrieve it. When he breaks down and pays the dreaded visit, Mrs. Morgan is suffering from a cold and will not negotiate. But when he performs a neighborly act of kindness, all the lost balls reappear and he concludes that "some people are full of surprises!" The boy's forthright narration rings true, and Saltzberg's naive acrylic and color-pencil illustrations are a funny complement to the text. Children will be tickled by the fantasy images, including a baby Mrs. Morgan (with eyeglasses and a beauty mark) shredding her teddy bear. And everyone will get a "kick" out of Mrs. Morgan's ultimate return of the purple soccer ball! Elizabeth Bush --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (September 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078681294X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786812943
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,117,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BARNEY SALTZBERG is the author-illustrator of the successful Kisses series, Peekaboo, Blueberry!, Hi, Blueberry!, and Good Egg (Workman), as well as various picture books. He also writes and performs music for children.

www.barneysaltzberg.com