The Magic Room - Hardcover

PreSchool-Grade 3 Dupuy's softly colored and often amusing illustrations are far more successful than Spencer's sappy story about a little girl who craves her parents' attention. The constant use of questions to readers is annoying, as is the incessant presence of the narrator's voice. The worst transgression, though, is not making a clear distinction between magician and scientist ; instead, the words are used interchangeably. Phoebe's mother and father, who call themselves scientists, spend all of their time experimenting, ignoring Phoebe. When an accident in the lab causes her parents to shrink to four inches tall, Phoebe takes care of them, plays with them, and gradually brings them back to their own size through laughter. Unnecessary explanations abound, almost as though the author assumes that children are unable to assimilate information and draw conclusions (``she was still hoping, you see. . .''). Certainly many children dream of having doll-sized parents that they can controlbut the treatment is too condescending here. Trev Jones, ``School Library Journal''
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Phoebe's parents are busy, serious sorts; they have little time for her, especially when they work in their secret laboratory at night. An accident there shrinks them to doll-size figures, a condition that Phoebe realizes can be reversed only with laughter. This therapy is effective, and it brings the family together as well. Spencer, author of Endless Love and other books for adults, has not succeeded in writing from a child's point of view. His text abounds with intrusive, direct addresses to the reader ("Do you know what I mean by a miracle?" he asks at one point); these create a distance and are likely to strike children as condescending. And he fantasy is contrived and unconvincing. Dupuy's paintings, though realistic and technically accomplished, are uninspiring. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.