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Title: Mean Margaret
Author: Tor Seidler
Narrator: Simon Jones
Format: Unabridged
Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins
Language: English
Release date: 03-03-15
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes
Genres: Kids, Ages 0-4
Publisher's Summary:
Unconditional kindness is the key in this National Book Award finalist from the author of The Wainscott Weasel about nontraditional families, adoption, love - and a little peace and quiet.
Margaret is a mean, cranky human toddler from a family of nine. She is such a pain that her beleaguered parents chuck her out, and she's on her own, grousing and grumping until two caring woodchucks, Phoebe and Fred, take Margaret in as their own. But despite their love, Margaret continues to wreak havoc with her loud, destructive ways, ruining the burrow and shrieking nonstop. Soon the woodchucks are as beleaguered as Margaret's human parents were, but because love is more powerful than temper tantrums, they are determined to make it work. So they enlist a little unconventional help, and with the guidance of a snake, bats, and a skunk, their feral little human just might realize there's more to life than being mean.
Members Reviews:
Five Stars
If you haven't read this book yet, no matter your age, you should. It's hilarious!
like this story
It arrived promptly and was just as expected. Thank You
more is redundant, more is redundant, more is redundant, more.....
A tender, humorous fantasy with a good social message.
I have been a school librarian for over 20 years and would rate this one tops in its appeal as a read-aloud for third graders. I especially appeciated the way it showed how family is created - the gradual movement away from self-centeredness to mutual caring and support. I found it a tender, funny book, and so did the kids.
Touching, Heartwarming & Witty!
Reason for Reading: I've read one previous book by this author and since I enjoyed it was looking forward to reading another of his books.
I'm not sure "Mean Margaret" is actually the best title for this book as Margaret is not the main character, nor is the story really about her, but she is indeed the antagonist. The book concerns Fred, a woodchuck, and his search for a mate. His eventual marriage to the woodchuck Phoebe brings up the talk of children, which Phoebe loves and Fred hates, putting her off with lame excuses the next day they find a human child outside their burrow. Sally, renamed Margaret by the woodchucks, is the ninth child of the Hubble's, a fat lazy couple with progressively ruder and wilder children. Toddler Sally takes the cake though and no one but a mother could love her. Sharing room with siblings 6, 7, & 8, they plot to drop her off far away in the woods one night to hopefully never have to contend with her again. Such then, is the story of how Phoebe takes in this mannerliness, self-centred child to look after and care for and love as only a mother can love. Along with Fred and Phoebe are a cast of their animal friends including Skunk, Snake, Squirrel, Mr & Mrs Bat & Phoebe's sister with her own three young children. The story mainly takes place amongst the animals in the forest but does switch to the human Hubble family a few times.
This is a lovable, dear comedy where nearly everyone learns a life lesson by the end of the book. Fred and Phoebe are wonderful animal characters and anyone who enjoys this type of animal fantasy will certainly like this book. There are most definitely touches of Roald Dahl in Seidler's humour as his dark humour is laced with a witty meanness that makes this as much a fun read for adults as children.
