Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
From the author-illustrator team who brought you The Invisible Boy comes the story of a boy who won't stop talking--until he gets laryngitis. You don't have to be a chatterbox to appreciate this tale of listening and learning.
Owen McPhee doesn't just like to talk, he LOVES to talk. He spends every waking minute chattering away at his teachers, his classmates, his parents, his dog, and even himself. But all that talking can get in the way of listening. And when Owen wakes up with a bad case of laryngitis, it gives him a much-needed opportunity to hear what others have to say.
From the author-illustrator team behind The Invisible Boy comes a bright and lively picture book that captures the social dynamics of a busy classroom while delivering a gentle message about the importance of listening.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ludwig and Barton, the team behind The Invisible Boy, tackle the challenge of the overly talkative child. Over the course of a few days, redheaded Owen's chatter stream (conveyed through word balloons) wrecks science class, spoils a movie's ending, and disrupts story time ("What did he see, Mrs. Fitzwater? Was there a monster? What if it's not a monster but a g-g-ghost?!"). There isn't a mean or gossipy bone in Owen's body; he's genuinely excited and curious and capable of apologizing but his peers think he's thoughtless and impulsive, culminating in his being ostracized from the rest of his class. Before things get too grim, however, along comes the perfect deus ex machina: a case of laryngitis. Forced to write and listen Owen becomes more mindful and a more effective collaborator, too. He even helps a team win the class prize for "Strongest Bridge." Audiences may not agree with an implied suggestion that talkative children observe an occasional "Laryngitis Day" (the final image suggests this is Owen's new self-disciplining tactic), but they should find the understated, reportorial-style narration and muted, cheery watercolors both sympathetic (to all sides) and most of all, hopeful. Ages 5 8.
