From School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-The Ms. Wiz series, about the zany "paranormal operative," was originally published in England, and now has hit the United States. Ms. Wiz was once the teacher at St. Barnabas School. Although she is now married to school inspector Mr. Brian Arnold and has a baby, she is still helping out her students. This audio collection consists of books 11 and 12 from the series. In Ms. Wiz Supermodel, Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien decide to sign up their daughter, Katrina, to be a model so they can get rich. They bring her to a modeling show presented by a supposedly world famous fashion designer. Didi Wisteria (aka Ms. Wiz) is on the scene in the guise of a world famous fashion model in order to save Katrina. Ms. Wiz has promised her husband she will no longer use magic to solve problems, although this promise has been difficult for her to keep. The story concludes with a satisfying plot twist. In Ms. Wiz Smells a Rat, Mr. Arnold has decreed that Ms. Wiz's talking pet rat, Herbert, must go. Herbert, a rather sarcastic rat, comments on Mr. Arnold's weight whenever he steps into the bath, and complains about all of his TV shows. Ms. Wiz brings Herbert to Podge Harris (one of her former students). Podge tries to keep Herbert a secret from his parents because Mrs. Wilson hates animals and Mr. Wilson hates magic. Podge's parents call the Environmental Health department to deal with the rats they suspect are hiding in their home. Meanwhile, Herbert falls in love with a street rat! Of course with the addition of Ms. Wiz's Love Potion #9 things only get worse. Middle grade readers will enjoy these stories with their outrageous characters and crazy plot twists. Suzy Aitchison's British dialect provides just the right touch.
Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, King County Library System, WA
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to the
Audio Cassette
edition.